A suspected member of an international crime gang which sells sick videos of monkeys being tortured has been arrested in Scotland.
The 37-year-old woman is being probed over her alleged involvement in a disturbing trade in footage of primates being mistreated in south-east Asia.
In recent years there have been an increasing number of reports of money being made from films of animal torture online.
A spokeswoman for UK-based Action For Primates said: “Online content that involves abuse and cruelty towards monkeys is available, with some channels monetised.
“The torture and abuse has been primarily filmed in South-East Asia and usually involves long-tailed macaques.
“In 2021 an investigation by Action For Primates revealed the disturbing escalation in the violence and torture inflicted upon monkeys, with the formation of private groups on platforms where members pay to have baby monkeys tortured and killed on camera.
“Examples include placing the monkeys in fearful and distressing situations such as setting off firecrackers close by and then filming their reactions.
“Others include slapping and hitting the monkeys and feeding them noxious substances. No responsible video-sharing platform should tolerate animal cruelty in the guise of entertainment.
"Despite their public pronouncements and policies, social media companies are failing to effectively oversee their platforms, in some cases allowing shocking footage to remain online – despite it being brought to their attention.”
It is unclear where in Scotland the woman who has been arrested is based but she was detained after an operation involving police forces across the UK.
A police spokeswoman said: “On September 7, 2022, in partnership with West Mercia Police and the National Crime Agency, a 37-year-old woman was arrested for crimes under the animal health and welfare act.
She was released pending further inquiries. Following further inquiries, the woman is also the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal for communications offences.”
A Crown Office spokesman added: “The Procurator Fiscal is considering a report relating to alleged criminality involving a
37-year-old woman.”
A report on the probe states it related to the seizure of “digital equipment used to facilitate international viewing for payment by request of monkeys being tortured on request in Asia”.
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