- Nearly 20,000 threatened and protected animals were rescued in a global policing operation coordinated by Interpol at the end of 2024.
- The campaign, Operation Thunder, involved law enforcement agencies in 138 countries and targeted six transnational criminal groups.
- Officials made hundreds of arrests and seized thousands of birds, turtles and other reptiles, primates, big cats and pangolins.
Big cats, birds, primates and pangolins were among the nearly 20,000 threatened or protected animals rescued in a recent global operation against wildlife and forestry traffickers.
Led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), the campaign, called Operation Thunder 2024, involved police, customs, border patrol, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions.
Six transnational criminal networks suspected of trafficking animals and plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) were identified, with 365 arrests made, the agencies announced on Feb. 4.
The live animals seized were 12,427 birds, 5,877 turtles, 1,731 other reptiles, 33 primates, 18 big cats and 12 pangolins.
Significant seizures included 6,500 songbirds discovered in Turkey during a vehicle inspection at the Syrian border, and 5,193 red-eared ornamental slider turtles hidden in passenger suitcases arriving from Malaysia at India’s Chennai International Airport.
“Organized crime networks are profiting from the demand for rare plants and animals, exploiting nature to fuel human greed,” said Interpol secretary-general Valdecy Urquiza.
“This has far-reaching consequences: it drives biodiversity loss, destroys communities, contributes to climate change and even fuels conflict and instability.”
Wildlife crime is estimated to be worth up to 17 billion pounds ($21 billion) annually worldwide, making it the fourth-largest international crime, after weapons, drugs and human trafficking, according to Interpol.
A total of 2,213 seizures were made worldwide during Operation Thunder 2024, which ran from Nov. 11 to Dec. 6 last year, Interpol and the WCO said in a joint press statement.
Authorities identified more than 100 companies involved in trafficking protected species, they added.
Where possible, wildlife forensic experts collected DNA samples before transferring the recovered animals to conservation centers. These samples are often key evidence in prosecutions, but also can shed light on trafficking routes and trends.