Monkey skulls seized from addresses in Devon following morning raids

Monkey skulls were seized from houses in South Devon in a series of raids (Devon and Cornwall Police)
Monkey skulls were seized from houses in South Devon in a series of raids (Devon and Cornwall Police)

Police in Devon have seized a haul of monkey skulls following a series of morning raids in the county.

A joint operation between the UK National Wildlife Crime Unity and Devon and Cornwall Police Rural Affairs saw the body parts removed from houses on Tuesday morning.

Police say “a number of warrants” were executed as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal trade in endangered species.

The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal trade in endangered species (Devon and Cornwall Police)
The raids were part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal trade in endangered species (Devon and Cornwall Police)

The Control of the Trade in Endangered Species (COTES) warrants turned up the haul of prohibited macaque skulls.

Alan Roberts, of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, said: “This sort of crime is getting increasingly prevalent.

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“It’s important that we stamp out the market because of the serious impact on the numbers of species in other parts of the world.

“This is not about a few items that are a by-product of other activity.

The UK National Wildlife Crime Unit said the animals are killed specifically for the trade in body parts Devon and Cornwall Police)
The UK National Wildlife Crime Unit said the animals are killed specifically for the trade in body parts Devon and Cornwall Police)

“Animals are killed specifically for this trade.”

No details of the those arrested as part of the investigation have been released.

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