May 22, 2026
World
World
MECCA, May 22 — More than one million Muslims are converging on Mecca for the haj pilgrimage, as regional tensions in the Middle East and a fragile ceasefire cast a shadow over the event.
QUITO, May 21 — Ecuadorian police have arrested three Thai nationals suspected of trafficking 12 rare iguanas, according to the energy and environment ministry yesterday.
The marine Galápagos iguanas, native to Ecuador’s protected Galápagos archipelago located about 1,000km off the Pacific coast, are a unique species found only in the region.
Authorities said one of the iguanas discovered during an inspection at Joaquín de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil on Tuesday had died, while the rest showed signs of injury after being transported with their legs tied.
In a statement, the ministry said a wildlife-sniffing dog detected the animals, which were found hidden in luggage bound for Asia.
A court has ordered pre-trial detention for the three suspects, with wildlife trafficking in Ecuador carrying penalties of up to three years in prison.
Galápagos marine iguanas are the only iguana species in the world capable of diving and can remain underwater for up to an hour.
Police are investigating potential trafficking routes from the Galápagos Islands and how the suspects managed to bypass strict airport controls in the archipelago. — AFP
