Gang of traders in Houbara birds held

ABU DHABI : The Ministry of Interior announced here on Monday that its law enforcement teams have captured a multi-national gang of vendors illegally trading in Houbara birds.

The gang include Asians and Arabs two Bangladeshis. a Syrian and a Pakistani.

The arrest followed reports that the gang sold 100 houbara birds in Al Qaleaha district in Sharjah.

In remarks shortly after the arrest of the group, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior Major General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the concerted efforts exerted by the law enforcement personnel in the ministry and authorities of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA).

"The co-operation of these two institutions led to a speedy arrest of the group," said Sheikh Saif, adding that the crackdown on the group was launched on the orders of Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces Lt. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.