Russian citizen sentenced to two years in prison for smuggling Galapagos marine iguanas

A Russian citizen has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for the illegal transport of 32 Galapagos marine iguanas. The individual was intercepted at the Mariscal Sucre airport in Quito on August 28, after a canine unit alerted authorities to a suitcase containing eight plastic containers, each holding four live iguanas.

The defendant reportedly intended to take the endemic species as souvenirs for family members. Under a shortened legal procedure, the woman accepted responsibility for the wildlife crime.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the payment of $3,210 in fines and $90,444.63 for integral reparation to the Galapagos National Park Directorate. These reparation funds are intended to cover veterinary care and monitoring plans. The sentence also requires the individual to issue public apologies to nature and the community.