The Guardia Civil has in the Region Murcia arrested a hunter and named another as a suspect. Both cases are suspected poaching and concern adult deer allegedly killed without a valid permit in the municipalities of Moratalla and Caravaca de la Cruz . The measures are being carried out by the Nature Protection Service SEPRONA under the name Operation “Puntas”.
According to the authorities, the first incident took place in the municipality of Moratalla. A suspected poacher is alleged to have shot a stag with fourteen points close to two other hunters and then fled. Investigators later found a parked vehicle and a discarded gun case nearby. This evidence helped identify the suspect, who was arrested. In addition to the possible criminal offence, he was reported for several administrative offences involving breaches of hunting regulations.
Separately, SEPRONA is investigating another man after a video was shared on social media. According to police, he boasted in the video about shooting a male deer with eleven points at a private hunting estate in Caravaca de la Cruz. Specialists identified the location where it was filmed and established that it was land belonging to a hunting association, for which no hunting permit had been issued. The man is being investigated for an offence against flora and fauna; several breaches of hunting regulations were also reported in this case.
The Guardia Civil worked with environmental officers from the autonomous community. During the rutting season they had stepped up checks in the north-west of the Region of Murcia to prevent poaching and protect wildlife populations. Under Spanish law, convictions for offences against flora and fauna can result in prison sentences, fines and a time-limited hunting ban being imposed.
The investigations are ongoing. Police stress that the accounts described reflect current findings and are still being prepared for use in court. The Guardia Civil initially provided no information about any weapons or game meat seized.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).