the Unit of Investigation, Financial Analysis and Borders (UDAIFF) of the Civil Guard and the Nature Conservation Service (SEPRONA) The investigation of the head of an association on 1 March for the continuing offense of falsifying documents, by forging export certificates and submitting them to the UK export authorities. 482 dogs from Gran Canaria to the UK From January 2021 to October 2022. The events that took place in the town of Aguemis.
The Civil Guard learned of the events on November 4, 2022 as a result of a complaint made by the Regional Coordinator of the Animal Health Service in the Agriculture and Fisheries District of Delegation of the Government of the Canary Islandsto inform him that his UK counterpart (APHA) had passed information to him when he was investigating the entry of dogs into the UK from the island of Gran Canaria, due to suspicion
The validity of official certificates provided by the association investigated, and the ability to verify that said certificates have not been issued by the Animal Health Service.
Initiation and development of research
The agents, having learned of the events that took place, carried out all relevant steps to clarify the criminal offense and proceeded to check how from January 2021 to October 2022 the Association had exported 482 dogs to the UK for adoption requests. About 542 euros for animal care and transportation costs.
Likewise, a joint inspection was carried out with the veterinary technician of the General Directorate of Animal Resources in the facilities owned by the investigated association in the municipality of Aguim, where a large number of animals of various species were identified. (141 dogs, 3 pigs, 8 goats, 7 horses, 5 sheep and 30 chickens)the absence of records of entry and exit of animals or the collection of carcasses by an authorized management company, as well as the absence of registration in the Register of Cattle Farms of the Canary Islands (REGAC), indicating to the president of the investigated association that the majority of dogs come from Albergue Insular de Bañaderos and from CETAs in the municipalities of Ingenio, Santa Lucía de Tirajana, and Agüimes.
significantly The agents found 4 dog corpses with microchips half buried in the ground attached to the association’s facilities. The researchers, in the exercise of their specific functions, checked the community passports of dogs, and were able to check how one of them had the stamp of the compulsory rabies vaccination campaign and the corresponding label for the identification of the vaccine. it was cut off. from another passport and registered together.
Therefore, when dealing with commercial movements within the community of live animals, they are subject to compliance with animal health regulations established to avoid the spread of potentially infectious diseases to humans and other animals, in addition to coming from establishments that comply with current legislation and are authorized to do so, the impact of which is not the case for these The association because it is not registered in the register of cattle farms in the Canary Islands.
To evade Spain’s controls and not declare commercial items with the corresponding Single Administrative Document (DUA), the president of the association forged export certificates and submitted them to the UK authorities. Through this practice, he introduced some 482 dogs to the UK, thus securing economic contributions that could amount to around €265,000. The proceedings were handed over to the Court of the Guards in Tilde (Las Palmas).
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