Global Wildlife Trafficking Crackdown Rescues Nearly 20,000 Animals
In the largest international operation of its kind, law enforcement agencies from 138 countries have rescued almost 20,000 endangered animals and arrested 365 suspects linked to wildlife trafficking networks.
Operation Thunder 2024, conducted between November 11 and December 6 last year, brought together police, customs, border control, forestry and wildlife officials in a coordinated effort to combat the illegal trade in protected species.
The month-long operation resulted in 2,213 seizures worldwide, with authorities identifying six major transnational criminal networks and more than 100 companies involved in trafficking protected species.
Staggering Seizures
The rescued animals included 12,427 birds, 5,877 turtles, 1,731 other reptiles, 33 primates, 18 big cats and 12 pangolins. Among the most significant seizures were 6,500 songbirds discovered in Turkey at the Syrian border and 5,193 red-eared slider turtles hidden in passenger luggage at Chennai International Airport in India.
Authorities also seized hundreds of thousands of protected animal parts and derivatives, trees, plants, marine life and arthropods. Notable seizures included 134 tonnes of timber in Indonesia, eight rhino horns found in a passenger’s luggage in Qatar, and 973 kilograms of dried shark fins seized in Hong Kong.
In the United States, authorities discovered one tonne of sea cucumbers smuggled from Nicaragua, while Australia and the United Kingdom both reported seizures of bear bile, commonly used in traditional medicine.
A Growing Criminal Enterprise
Wildlife trafficking has become one of the world’s largest criminal activities, with an estimated value of up to $21 billion annually. This places it fourth among international crimes, after weapons, drugs and human trafficking.
“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.”
The illegal trade supplies markets demanding exotic pets, traditional medicine ingredients, luxury items and collector pieces. Species are trafficked across international borders by criminal syndicates that increasingly employ armed violence, corruption and money laundering.
Protecting Wildlife and Rangers
The human cost of wildlife crime is also severe. Up to 100 rangers are killed annually by poachers while protecting wildlife in their natural habitats, according to Interpol.
Wildlife forensic experts collected DNA samples from the rescued animals before transferring them to conservation centres. These samples are crucial evidence for prosecutions and help authorities identify trafficking routes and emerging trends.
Prior to Operation Thunder 2024, countries exchanged intelligence on ongoing cases and updated information on 21 Interpol Red Notices for suspected traffickers wanted internationally. During the operation, officers communicated in real time using secure channels.
International Cooperation
The operation was coordinated by Interpol and the World Customs Organization, with backing from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Secretariat. The 2024 edition was co-funded by the European Union, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the United States Agency for International Development.
“Operation Thunder continues to shed light on a crime that is often not a priority for enforcement actors,” said World Customs Organization Secretary General Ian Saunders. “Through our joint efforts we have established cooperation mechanisms that facilitate the exchange of information and intelligence.”
Since the first Operation Thunder in 2017, the series has grown to become the most comprehensive global effort against wildlife trafficking. The 2024 edition marked the widest participation yet, demonstrating the international community’s commitment to protecting endangered species from organized criminal exploitation.
The operation sends a clear message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated, even as criminals continue to adapt their methods, including using multiple profiles across social media platforms and online marketplaces to conduct their illegal trade.
