Business, Freight News

Officials swoop on illegal wildlife traders

[ December 14, 2023   //   Chris Lewis ]

Endangered animals including elephants, rhinos and pangolins, as well as protected timber, particularly tropical hardwoods, have been seized in a joint World Customs Organization (WCO) – INTERPOL operation.

Between 2 and 27 October, customs and police officers coordinated 500 arrests worldwide and more than 2,000 confiscations of goods protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The global Operation Thunder involved customs, police, border control, environment, wildlife and forestry officials in 133 countries the highest participation since the series was launched in 2017.

Among the 2,114 seizures were more than 300 kg of ivory, thousands of turtle eggs, 30 tonnes of plants, dozens of big cat body parts and rhino horns as well as primates, birds and marine species. Authorities also confiscated 2,624 cubic metres of timber which is equivalent to 440 standard shipping containers.

Tags: World Customs Organisation