International operation targets wild parrot egg trafficking between Brazil and Europe

On 19 October 2026, Brazil's Federal Police, Spain's National Police, and the Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security carried out a joint operation known as Operação Ninho Vazio, or Operation Empty Nest. Two people suspected of leading the trafficking network were arrested on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria under warrants issued by Brazilian authorities. Two further arrests were made in Curitiba, Brazil, where officers also carried out three searches. In Switzerland, authorities executed three search warrants in Weinfelden. 

The operation followed a year-long investigation into a suspected network involved in obtaining wild bird eggs in Brazil and transporting them to Europe. IFAW helped facilitate relationships between Swiss Customs and Brazilian authorities during the enquiry and shared intelligence with Swiss officials that contributed to the wider intelligence picture.

Both face conservation pressures, with the red-spectacled amazon classified as threatened in Brazil and the red-tailed amazon considered near threatened. 

Investigators subsequently uncovered evidence of repeated travel between Brazil and Switzerland, as well as suspected roles within the network involving the collection, transport, and reception of eggs overseas. The woman intercepted at the airport is now subject to a Brazilian arrest warrant and an Interpol Red Notice. 

During the October 2026 operation, Brazilian authorities also seized wildlife-related materials, including taxidermy specimens, skulls, and bones. Investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspected trafficking activities and identify others who may have been involved. 

Why trafficking wild bird eggs threatens conservation 

The illegal wildlife trade is not limited to animals that have already hatched or reached adulthood. Eggs can also be targeted by traffickers seeking to supply international markets for rare and exotic birds. 

Removing eggs from nests prevents those birds from contributing to wild populations. It can also undermine breeding success, particularly for species already facing pressures from habitat loss and other threats. 

Transporting eggs clandestinely creates further risks. Developing embryos are sensitive to temperature changes, movement, and handling, and the conditions involved in smuggling can lead to injury or death before chicks hatch. In this case, the survival of just nine chicks from the 24 confiscated eggs demonstrates the serious welfare consequences of this trade. 

Each surviving chick represents an individual animal whose life was put at risk. But the harm extends beyond those individuals. When eggs are removed from the wild, their loss can affect the reproductive potential of populations that conservationists are working to protect. 

International cooperation is essential to tackling wildlife crime 

Investigating these activities requires authorities to work across borders, share information, and connect evidence that may initially appear unrelated. 

Operation Empty Nest illustrates the value of that cooperation. What began with the interception of eggs at a Brazilian airport developed into an investigation involving law enforcement authorities in South America and Europe. 

IFAW supports efforts to disrupt illegal wildlife trade by strengthening cooperation and information-sharing among those working to protect animals. In this investigation, IFAW facilitated relationship building between Swiss Customs and Brazilian authorities and shared intelligence with Swiss officials that contributed to the intelligence picture. 

The arrests and searches were carried out by the relevant national authorities, whose investigation remains ongoing. The people arrested are suspected of involvement in wildlife trafficking offences, and their individual responsibility has yet to be established through the legal process. 

Protecting wildlife before it enters the illegal trade 

Law enforcement action is an important part of confronting wildlife trafficking, but preventing animals from being taken from the wild is equally essential. Protecting nesting habitats, strengthening local enforcement capacity, and improving cooperation between countries can all help reduce opportunities for illegal trade. 

The nine surviving chicks at the center of this investigation are a reminder of the animals affected by these crimes. Their survival does not erase the harm caused by their removal from the wild, or the loss of the eggs that did not survive. 

As authorities continue their investigation, Operation Empty Nest demonstrates what coordinated international action can achieve. By connecting expertise and intelligence across borders, those working to combat wildlife crime are better placed to identify suspected trafficking networks, disrupt their activities, and protect wild animals where they belong.