Ecuador sentences three foreigners to prison for Galapagos iguana trafficking

Three foreign nationals, identified as Thai citizens, have been sentenced to four years in prison for attempting to illegally smuggle twelve marine iguanas from the Galapagos Islands. The sentencing follows an incident in May at the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, where authorities discovered the reptiles hidden in carry-on luggage.

The individuals, aged 30, 36, and 39, were attempting to board an international flight destined for Amsterdam, Netherlands. During the illegal transport, two of the twelve iguanas died, while the remaining ten were returned to the Galapagos.

In addition to the prison terms, the court imposed a fine equivalent to ten unified basic salaries and ordered the defendants to pay $400,000 in integral reparation for the damage caused to the ecosystem. The ruling was issued through a direct procedure following the presentation of evidence by the prosecution regarding crimes against wild flora and fauna.