Three people arrested are sick as parrots as operation tackling illegal breeding and selling of parrots results in 24 birds recovered
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Officers in our Bury district set up the operation due to the illegal selling of African grey parrots.
The parrots are an endangered species and a permit is required to sell and import or export them.
A warrant took place this morning (Wednesday 12 February 2025) at a premises in Bury town centre. Police seized 24 parrots at the address due to concerns for their care.
Officers seized items from an address in Heywood relating to money laundering and permit offences, with paperwork relating to the sale and breeding of the birds recovered.
The parrots are now with the RSPCA, who are arranging specialist care for them.
Three people – one woman aged 33, a 30-year-old man and a 29-year-old man - were arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They remain in police custody.
Inspector Kevin Wright said: “We received concerns from the community that the parrots are being imported illegally and there is a strong likelihood that they are not been cared for correctly as many have diseases.
“Intelligence was gathered that trying to sell the parrots without the correct licence to do so. These birds need to be looked after properly because they could be carrying avian flu and other diseases if not properly cared for.
“The warrants were executed by the Bury neighbourhood team along with the RSPCA and Animal and Plant Health Agency. These partner agencies helped to ensure that all evidence relating to the birds was cared for in the correct manner.”
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “Today (Wednesday 12 February) officers from the RSPCA Special Operations Unit joined police as they executed a number of warrants across Greater Manchester in connection with an investigation being led by the National Wildlife Crime Unit into the exotic parrot trade.
“More than 20 birds were removed by police and the RSPCA is now arranging specialist care for these birds. As an investigation is ongoing, we will not be commenting any further at this time.”