IFAW statement on Galápagos marine iguanas case

According to Ecuadorian authorities, a Russian woman has been arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle 32 Galápagos marine iguanas out of the country. The animals were discovered hidden in eight plastic containers inside a suitcase as she prepared to board a flight from Quito to Iceland.

The iguanas are reported to be in a weakened condition and have been transferred to a conservation centre for treatment. The case follows another wildlife trafficking incident in May, when authorities intercepted 12 juvenile iguanas destined for Asia.

“Galápagos marine iguanas exist nowhere else on Earth, and now benefit from the highest level of international trade protection. Despite this, criminal traffickers continue to target them because of their rarity and value in the illegal wild animal pet trade,” said Barbara Slee, Senior Program Manager, International Policy, at IFAW.

“Wildlife trafficking is not only a conservation crime, but also an animal welfare crisis affecting individual animals every day. As this seizure shows, legal protections alone are not enough. Strong enforcement, international cooperation and greater public awareness of the impact that demand for ‘exotic’ pets has on wild populations are all essential to stopping wildlife traffickers.”

“We cannot allow these animals to pay with their lives. When species are removed from the wild, fragile ecosystems such as the Galápagos also suffer the consequences.”

The seizure comes just months after Galápagos marine and land iguanas were uplisted to Appendix I under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at CoP20 in December 2025. Ecuador has alerted CITES parties not to issue anymore permits allowing trade. The listing, which entered into force on 5 March 2026, provides the highest level of protection under international wildlife trade regulations. IFAW strongly supported the proposal.

Press contact:  

Kirsty Warren, IFAW UK, +44 7809 269747, kwarren@ifaw.org