It was time. It is the general feeling of animal lovers who in recent times have seen with concern loose reports of the illegal sale of dog puppies that came from farms in Eastern countries. A large police operation led by the head of Court 23 of Barcelona and the Environmental Prosecutor's Office has managed to dismantle a criminal organization that in recent years brought in dogs raised in terrible conditions and that were sold with illegal documentation in stores. The balance of an operation that has been a success, 18 detainees, not all of them will be brought to justice and, most importantly, the recovery of more than 400 live puppies (350 dogs and 50 cats), in addition to numerous dead specimens.
The detainees played with the feelings of families who chose the route of buying a dog in a commercial establishment. They were animals that were presented with all the documentation in order but that a very high percentage ended up dying after long illnesses. The members of the network imported the animals when they were just a few weeks old and those who endured the long journey in terrible conditions later, upon reaching the families, ended up getting sick.
Diseases that had also become a source of profit for the organization. In addition to the establishments inspected, the police accessed two veterinary clinics with professionals accused not only of manipulating and signing false documentation, but also assisting these sick animals on the recommendation of those responsible for the stores that were part of the criminal organization.
It all started three years ago when a routine inspection by the Barcelona Urban Police detected a transport of animals from Hungary that did not have the documentation in order and with the animals that were not of the minimum age to travel.
The urban guards began an investigation and opened proceedings at the Environmental Prosecutor's Office. A transport that was directed to the Bitxets store, which incidentally gives its name to the current investigation.
Two years ago, the Medi Ambient group of the Mossos d'Esquadra took charge of these efforts and started working. The investigation immediately located the tentacles of the criminal organization in Madrid, Andorra, Catalonia (Vallromanes, Sant Feliu de Codines, Sant Cugat) and even Dubai. Given the large scale of the case, a joint team was formed in which, in addition to the Urban Police and the Mossos, the National Police, the Civil Guard and the Andorra Police participated.
A group of investigators that yesterday carried out raids on twenty premises and clinics and managed to arrest the person considered to be the mastermind of the operation. A Spaniard with a history of similar causes, responsible for several stores and who was opening a business in Dubai with puppies that he sold for more than 5,000 euros.
