Interpol: Wildlife trade seizures lead to hundreds of arrests worldwide
Interpol: Wildlife trade seizures lead to hundreds of arrests worldwide
Nick Webster, UAE
December 1, 2021
See link
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/environment/2021/12/01/wildlife-trade-seizures-lead-to-hundreds-of-arrests-worldwide/
for photos.
Hundreds of arrests have been made in a global operation by Interpol and
customs authorities against traffickers in wildlife.
Criminal networks have been severely disrupted by the month-long Operation
Thunder 2021 spread across 118 countries, with thousands of vehicles
searched by sniffer dogs and X-ray machines at border crossings.
Interpol and the World Customs Organisation seized more than 1,000
illegally traded specimens listed by the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species (Cites).
The haul included live big cats, primates, reptiles and birds, as well as
derivative products such as clothing, beauty products, food items,
traditional medicines and handicrafts.
Timber illegally farmed from protected areas was also recovered by
authorities.
“Organised crime networks are generating billions in illicit profits every
year, at significant cost to our environment, as well as the associated
impacts of fraud, corruption and violence,” Interpol secretary general
Juergen Stock said.
“We are seeing the continued globalisation of crime, which means only an
international response can be effective, as demonstrated with this latest
Operation Thunder.
"Every one of our 195 member countries has a role to play in combating this
threat, either directly or in the follow-up investigations.”
Interpol seized large quantities of Cites-listed birds, such as Houbara
bustards squeezed beneath the fake base of a transport box intercepted in
Qatar.
An Arabian wolf was also intercepted by Qatari authorities, while other big
cats destined for the illegal wildlife trade were seized at border controls
throughout the operation.
The Middle East has been a hotbed of trafficking as a final destination for
illegally traded wildlife in recent years.
Falcons, Houbara bustards and cheetahs have been targets for smugglers into
the region but networks are gradually being closed off by authorities.
Specialist training programmes have taken place in Somaliland, a known
trafficking route from East Africa into the Gulf, to disrupt illegal
wildlife supply chains.
During Operation Thunder, known criminals and Interpol red-notice fugitives
were sought before the global drive, along with companies used to enable
wildlife and timber crime.
Operation Thunder has so far recovered 478 kilograms of ivory pieces and
487kg ivory-derived products, 75 big cat parts, 29 live big cats, 856kg of
pangolin scales, 531 turtles and tortoises, 171 birds and 336 reptiles.
Hong Kong officials seized 3.2 tonnes of red sandalwood in freight from the
UAE, while Mexican authorities arrested three Chinese citizens smuggling
Totoaba bladders, sea cucumber and coral, along with methamphetamine and
cash.
“The volume of seizures made during Operation Thunder 2021 proves how
serious the transnational organised crime threat is for wild species and
ecosystems across range, transit and destination countries,” said Ivonne
Higuero, secretary general of Cites.
“The success of Operation Thunder 2021 strongly contributes to the
strategic vision of Cites parties and reinforces that we must work
together, combining different skills, mandates and resources to reduce
threats to wildlife and live in harmony with nature.”
Police and customs officials shared wildlife and timber-trafficking
intelligence, allowing field officers to identify specific trafficking
hotspots on land, sea and airport border points, as well as wildlife parks.
“With criminals trafficking endangered species along the same routes they
use to smuggle other illicit goods, customs is strategically placed at
borders to intercept illegally traded Cites-listed products,” World Customs
Organisation secretary general Kunio Mikuriya said.
“Large-scale, cross-border operations such as Operation Thunder 2021
illustrate the benefits and impact global law enforcement co-operation has
in deterring wildlife crime, putting its perpetrators behind bars and
raising awareness of its devastating effects.”