ATHENS – Greek customs officials are being called on to explain why they let two lions and a tiger to be shipped through a northern border en route to Mykonos, an island with a notorious reputation for exotic parties.

The Panhellenic Animal Welfare and Environmental Organization demanded an investigation into why the animals were being sent to the island and whether their ownership is legal. It wasn’t said who owned them.

That came after state broadcaster ERT reported the discovery by customs officers at the Promachonas border crossing with Bulgaria of the three cats poacked in separate cages in a truck traveling from Slovenia.

The report said that the customs officers let the cargo through after ascertaining that it was accompanied by valid documents certifying the ownership of the three exotic animals.

In 2017, some Greek animal welfare groups said there was unregulated trade in exotic animals and birds in pet shops and open markets or over the Internetand wanted controls.

Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta in May submitted a proposal for a European Union ban on people keeping dangerous or endangered animals as pets but it’s just sitting there.