Gang of poachers snared 17 rare gyrfalcons worth $310,000 before they were…snared 

The dozen poachers had caught the Russian Red Book falcons in Kamchatka in what appeared a well-organised operation, alleged state investigators. 

Law enforcement agencies face a constant battle against illegal trapping and black market export of rare birds which are in high demand for falconry in Arab countries. 

'The criminal gang of 12 people, all of them citizens of Russia from different regions, was detained in a special shelter for poachers in the area of Yaavn Lagoon and Shlyupochnaya Bay in the Olyutorsky district of Kamchatka,' said Elena Matafonova, a senior aide to the head of the Investigative Committee in Kamchatka. 

In all, 17 falcons had been caught and were being held by the gang, she said. They were 'returned to nature'.

The suspects were detained by officers from the local FSB security service and Interior Ministry police. They found 'numerous tools for catching birds, weapons and bullets, means of communications, and facilities for keeping already caught birds'.

There are fears of many birds being caught and illegally exported undetected. They are highly-sought by falconry devotees in the Middle East.