New charges have been filed in what may be Argentina’s largest-ever illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking case. Key defendant Carlos Pablo Escontrela attempted to flee the country, and as a flight risk may be forced to remain behind bars in pretrial detention. Prosecutors presented new evidence in the case earlier this year that strengthened the case — and added animal abuse and illegal possession of weapons of war to the charges against Escontrela. Arrests in the case date back a year ago. In August 2024, after a months-long investigation into Caza & Safaris Argentina, a high-end hunting outfit that targeted protected wildlife, specialized agents from the Environmental Control Brigade (BCA by its Spanish acronym) coordinated 13 raids in different parts of the country. It was a massive effort, involving at least 70 agents in 20 vehicles. They seized more than 8,000 animal parts, mostly from protected species, and more than half of which were preserved hunting trophies. They also discovered live animals that included a puma and five peccaries. Authorities confiscated an illegal cache of 35 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. A puma skin confiscated during the raids on the Caza & Safaris properties. Image obtained during Mongabay Latam’s investigation. Seven men were arrested and now face a litany of charges, including criminal conspiracy, hunting of protected wildlife species, illegal provision of firearms, illegal possession of weapons of war, and animal abuse. If convicted, wildlife crimes can carry penalties of up to three years in prison. The defendants include…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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