Three people have been arrested and another twenty charged as part of Operation Asta, an investigation into poaching in the Seierra Norte in Málaga province.
Those arrested include a gamekeeper and a civil servant from the Ministry of Environment of the Junta de Andalucia who used their status and uniform to manage a poaching network. Charges include crimes against wildlife, fraud, forgery and abuse of power.
Deer, goats, wild boar and Ibex were amongst the animals hunted and killed by the network of poachers. Hunting gear was seized during raids on various properties.