In Madagascar, a crackdown on the illegal trade in Malagasy tortoises has led to a series of recent arrests. In 2024, authorities apprehended a Tanzanian national found to be transporting 800 tortoises in the northwestern coastal town of Mahajanga. This arrest prompted a major investigation in regions all around the country, including the capital, Antananarivo. Following this, in early 2025, authorities also apprehended four Chinese accomplices in Tanzania, and 19 further traffickers in Madagascar, many of which were arrested at the airport with tortoises in their suitcases. According to the investigation, the trafficking operation linked poachers who capture the tortoises from the wild habitat, with others who take care of temporary storage and local transport of the animals. Other intermediaries are then responsible for arranging for their export. Recent arrests suggest that some politicians also seem to have a stake in the apparently lucrative sector. A member of parliament, Roméo Christophe Ramanatanana, was arrested as part of the crackdown and charged with illegally transporting 112 tortoises to Antananarivo.