Wildlife crime: global seizures and arrests in transcontinental operation

Interpol: An international operation against the illegal trade in wildlife and timber has seen hundreds of seizures worldwide as well as suspects arrested.

Codenamed Thunderstorm and targeting the people and networks behind global wildlife crime, the operation involved police, customs, border, environment, wildlife and forestry agencies from 92 countries and resulted in millions of dollars-worth of seizures.

The month-long (1-31 May) operation has so far brought 1,974 seizures and the identification of some 1,400 suspects, triggering arrests and investigations worldwide. Further arrests and prosecutions are foreseen as ongoing investigations unfold.

Total worldwide seizures reported to date include:

• 43 tonnes of wild meat (including bear, elephant, crocodile, whale and zebra)
• 1.3 tonnes of raw and processed elephant ivory
• 27,000 reptiles (including 869 alligators/crocodiles, 9,590 turtles and 10,000 snakes)
• almost 4,000 birds, including pelicans, ostriches, parrots and owls
• several tonnes of wood and timber
• 48 live primates
• 14 big cats (tiger, lion, leopard and jaguar)
• the carcasses of seven bears, including two polar bears

The operation saw eight tonnes of pangolin scales seized worldwide, including almost four tonnes by Vietnamese maritime authorities on board a ship arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo.