Russian woman arrested in Ecuador for smuggling 32 marine iguanas

Ecuadorian authorities arrested a Russian woman on Saturday at Quito's airport for attempting to smuggle 32 marine iguanas out of the country. The woman, whose identity has not been released, was reportedly en route to Iceland when police intercepted her.

According to police, the reptiles were discovered inside eight plastic containers packed within a single suitcase. The iguanas, which are native to the Galapagos Islands, were found to be in a weakened and dehydrated state.

Following the seizure, Ecuador's Ministry of Environment transferred the animals to a conservation center, where a team of veterinarians will care for them until their health improves.

The woman is expected to face charges of wildlife trafficking, a crime that carries a potential prison sentence of up to three years in Ecuador.

Marine iguanas are an endemic species of the Galapagos and are classified as vulnerable. The archipelago, located roughly 1,000 kilometers west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 due to its exceptional biodiversity.