The Brazilian Federal Police, in coordination with European law enforcement agencies, has dismantled an international criminal organization responsible for trafficking native bird eggs from Brazil. According to a report by TV Globo's Fantástico, the ring generated approximately R$ 90 million by removing eggs from endangered species in the wild and selling them abroad for up to R$ 6,000 each.
The investigation began after Erika Zumofen-Göllesz, a Swiss national, was detained at Rio de Janeiro's Galeão Airport. She was attempting to return to her home country with 24 eggs of the red-faced parrot and blue-fronted amazon species hidden against her body inside silk stockings. These birds are exclusive to Brazil and face extinction risks. Zumofen-Göllesz had previously made 31 trips between Switzerland and Brazil, maintaining a routine of short stays in Curitiba and returning via Guarulhos Airport. After being released following her testimony, the Federal Police seized her mobile phone, which provided crucial leads for the operation.
Investigators found calls on the device to Hans Zehnder, owner of two large bird aviaries in Switzerland, as well as frequent contacts with Marco Schwarz's family in Curitiba. Marco, along with his wife and daughter, operated a shop selling animal capture and handling equipment from their residence and are suspected of supplying the eggs to traffickers. Authorities believe the cargo was primarily taken from nests in reserve areas and conservation units in Bocaiúva do Sul, Paraná.
The Federal Police stated that the criminal organization had been active for nearly 20 years, conducting approximately 120 international trips with an average of 20 eggs transported per journey. This intense activity occurred mainly between August and March, coinciding with the breeding season of birds in the Atlantic Forest.
Following the monitoring of Marco Schwarz's departure from Curitiba to Zurich, two Federal Police agents traveled to Europe. With support from Swiss and Spanish police, they tracked Schwarz and Zehnder to Gran Canaria Island in Spain. Both men were arrested in a hotel room where authorities seized cash equivalent to R$ 260,000 in euros and Swiss francs. They have been transferred to Madrid and are awaiting extradition proceedings to Brazil. Spanish National Police continue to investigate seized documents and phones to identify the final recipients on the island and verify the existence of other suspects.
Simultaneously with the arrests abroad, Federal Police executed warrants in Curitiba. Rita Lydia Schwarz and Cláudia Fabiana Schwarz, Marco's wife and daughter, were arrested. At their home and shop, agents seized 61 stuffed animals and 130 animal parts, including skulls and teeth of endangered species such as the golden-headed lion tamarin and Colombian primates. These actions fall under Brazil's Environmental Crimes Law. Erika Zumofen-Göllesz is currently considered a fugitive, while Cláudia Fabiana Schwarz's defense stated she is on provisional bail and has not yet accessed the case files.
The clandestine transport of these eggs results in the death of most embryos due to the delicate nature of incubation, which requires strict temperature and humidity control. Of the 24 eggs seized from the Swiss suspect at Galeão Airport, only nine parrots successfully hatched. In other recent seizures, a Chinese couple was arrested in Foz do Iguaçu transporting 34 eggs in improvised incubators; 18 chicks have already hatched and are receiving veterinary care. Additionally, 71 eggs destined for China and Vietnam were seized at Guarulhos Airport within five days and sent to the state government's Wildlife Sorting and Rehabilitation Center (CETRAS).
Rescued birds raised manually by caretakers become highly social and vulnerable, preventing their direct release into the wild. Biologist Fernanda Guida from the São Paulo Zoo explained that environmental teams are working to pair these specimens for reproduction in captivity. The goal is for their future offspring, raised in a more natural manner, to be reintroduced into native Brazilian forests.
Sources: G1.