In 2021, five alleged members of a wildlife trafficking ring were arrested and brought before a supervisory judge, charged with aggravated conspiracy and illicit exploitation of renewable natural resources. The network is accused of indiscriminately hunting capybaras in the Orinoquía natural region and selling their meat illegally in Bogotá and other parts of the country. Amongst the defendants are two men who were the alleged ringleaders and financiers of the criminal activity – from the capture of the animals in the savannah and Casanare waters, to killing them and distributing their meat. The evidence showed that the meat was hidden in vehicles designed for fish transport to evade the authorities, with the meat arriving in poor condition and unsuitable for human consumption. The meat was subsequently sold to markets and restaurants. The capybara is a protected species in Colombia, catalogued as a key part of the country’s natural heritage, so hunting is forbidden to ensure its conservation and survival. It can be hunted in exceptional circumstances with the correct permits and environmental licence, which the network did not possess.