A judicial intervention carried out at the end of January 2026 in the Saint-Roch neighborhood of Nice confiscated 45 illegally held European goldfinches. This case was revealed after a report and a complaint filed by the Stéphane Lamart association, leading to a criminal decision rendered on February 5, 2026.
The Stéphane Lamart association, “For the Defense of Animal Rights,” a national public interest association recognized by the Ministry of the Interior, reports that a judicial intervention took place on Friday, January 30, 2026, starting at 6 a.m. in an apartment located in the Saint-Roch neighborhood of Nice. This operation involved six police officers and led to the confiscation of 45 goldfinches.
This intervention followed a preliminary investigation and a complaint filed by the Stéphane Lamart association in December of the previous year. A joint raid by police services and agents of the French Biodiversity Office was conducted at the residence of a Nice individual under the authority of the Nice prosecutor’s office for alleged illegal possession of animals.
During the operation, investigators discovered about a hundred birds kept inside the residence, among which were 45 European goldfinches, a protected species. The suspected perpetrator was questioned by police services as part of the ongoing judicial procedure.
In December 2025, the Stéphane Lamart association received a detailed report on the mass holding of protected wild birds. After analysis and compiling a dossier, these elements led to the involvement of competent authorities and the intervention conducted in Nice.
The European goldfinch has been a protected species since 1981, and the Environment Code strictly prohibits the capture, possession, transport, sale, and marketing of this species, with violations subject to penalties of up to 150,000 euros in fines and three years of imprisonment.
This species is particularly affected by trafficking motivated by profit, with the goldfinch being sought after for its three-color emblematic plumage and the quality of its song. The birds are captured in the wild and then illegally sold at prices that can reach 100 to 150 euros minimum per individual, fueling a genuine trafficking business.
A Criminal Decision
Subsequently, a complaint led to a judicial investigation conducted under the authority of the Nice prosecutor’s office, which resulted in a joint intervention by law enforcement and the French Biodiversity Office at the end of January 2026.
The goldfinches, victims of trafficking fueled by their song and market value, were taken charge of and then released, ending their captivity. On February 5, 2026, the accused was again placed in custody and then brought before the prosecutor as part of a plea bargaining procedure. The Stéphane Lamart association had joined as a civil party in the proceedings.
The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 1,000 euros with suspension, while ordering the exclusion from the criminal record bulletin n°2 and the confiscation of 5,910 euros seized at the suspect’s residence.
This decision by the justice system sends a deterrent message against those involved or tempted to become involved in the trafficking of protected birds. “It is imperative that these practices stop so that goldfinches can live freely in the national territory without being captured, imprisoned, or commercialized in the name of money,” declared Stéphane Lamart, reiterating that the association will continue its judicial commitment and field actions to combat wildlife trafficking and enforce environmental law.
