Rare poached cacti found in Italy sent home to native Chile

Andrea Cattabriga, President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation, walks amongst his homegrown rare cacti at his greenhouse in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Cattabriga, a top expect on rare cacti, was called by the Carabinieri Military Police in February 2020 as a consultant to examine thousands of cacti stolen from from the Atacama Desert in Chile, confiscated when police conducted a massive cactus bust at a greenhouse along the Adriatic Coast in Italy. (AP Photo/Trisha Thomas)

Andrea Cattabriga, President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation, examines his homegrown rare cacti at his greenhouse in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Cattabriga, a top expect on rare cacti, was called by the Carabinieri Military Police in February 2020 as a consultant to examine thousands of cacti stolen from from the Atacama Desert in Chile, confiscated when police conducted a massive cactus bust at a greenhouse along the Adriatic Coast in Italy. (AP Photo/Trisha Thomas)

Italian Carabinieri wrap up confiscated cacti to be sent back to Chile, in Milan, Italy, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. A huge cactus bust in Italy in February 2020 resulted in the confiscation of over 1,000 rare cacti. The find became the catalyst for an international effort among cacti experts, police, conservationists and governments to launch the first rare plant return to its native habitat. (Carabinieri via AP)

An Italian Carabinieri checks cacti in the greenhouse of a suspected cactus trafficker, in Senigallia, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. A huge cactus bust in Italy in February 2020 resulted in the confiscation of over 1,000 rare cacti. The find became the catalyst for an international effort among cacti experts, police, conservationists and governments to launch the first rare plant return to its native habitat. (Carabinieri via AP)

Andrea Cattabriga, President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation, examines his homegrown rare cacti at his greenhouse in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Cattabriga, a top expect on rare cacti, was called by the Carabinieri Military Police in February 2020 as a consultant to examine thousands of cacti stolen from from the Atacama Desert in Chile, confiscated when police conducted a massive cactus bust at a greenhouse along the Adriatic Coast in Italy. (AP Photo/Trisha Thomas)

Andrea Cattabriga, President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation, examines his homegrown rare cacti at his greenhouse in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Cattabriga, a top expect on rare cacti, was called by the Carabinieri Military Police in February 2020 as a consultant to examine thousands of cacti stolen from from the Atacama Desert in Chile, confiscated when police conducted a massive cactus bust at a greenhouse along the Adriatic Coast in Italy. (AP Photo/Trisha Thomas)

Andrea Cattabriga, President of the Association for Biodiversity and Conservation, examines his homegrown rare cacti at his greenhouse in San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy, Saturday, June 5, 2021. Cattabriga, a top expect on rare cacti, was called by the Carabinieri Military Police in February 2020 as a consultant to examine thousands of cacti stolen from from the Atacama Desert in Chile, confiscated when police conducted a massive cactus bust at a greenhouse along the Adriatic Coast in Italy. (AP Photo/Trisha Thomas)