Nearly 20,000 live animals, all endangered or protected species, have been seized in a global operation against wildlife and forestry trafficking networks, jointly coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL.
The live animals, which included big cats, birds, pangolins, primates and reptiles were rescued in connection with 2,213 seizures made worldwide.
Operation Thunder 2024 (November 11 - December 6) brought together Customs, Police, border control, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions, marking the widest participation since the first edition in 2017.
Authorities arrested 365 suspects and identified 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). Such species are illegally trafficked to meet specific market demands, whether for food, perceived medicinal benefits, "luxury" and collector items or as pets and competition animals.
Significant seizures include:
• Indonesia: 134 tonnes of timber headed to Asia via ocean freight.
• Kenya: 41 tonnes of exotic timber headed to Asia via ocean freight.
• Nigeria: 4,472 kg of pangolins scales
• Türkiye: 6,500 live songbirds discovered during a vehicle inspection at the Syrian border.
• India: 5,193 live red-eared ornamental slider turtles concealed in passenger suitcases arriving from Malaysia at Chennai Airport.
• Peru: 3,700 protected plants intercepted en route from Ecuador.
• Qatar: Eight rhino horns found in a suspect's luggage while transiting from Mozambique to Thailand.
• United States: One tonne of sea cucumbers, considered a seafood delicacy, smuggled from Nicaragua.
• Hong Kong, China: 973 kg of dried shark fins originating from Morocco seized at the airport.
• Czech Republic: Eight tigers, aged between two months and two years, discovered in a suspected illegal breeding facility.
• Indonesia: 846 pieces of reticulated python skin, from the world's longest snake species, concealed on board a ship.
• Australia and the United Kingdom reported seizures of bear bile, often used in traditional medicine.
• More than 300 seized firearms, vehicles and poaching equipment.