The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a shift in wildlife trafficking strategies as exemplified by the massive stockpiling of fossilised giant clam shells in the Philippines – with demand increasingly significantly as a result of searches for alternatives to ivory. While media reports indicated seizures of around 150 metric tons since October 2020, actual Philippine National Police-Maritime Group data showed a much larger scale - approximately 621 metric tons confiscated between January and April 2021 alone through nine operations. Interestingly, the highest number of wildlife seizures occurred during the strictest phases of pandemic lockdowns. This pattern emerged because police checkpoints implemented for COVID-19 restrictions freed up maritime personnel to focus on coastal patrols. However, the limited arrests (only 16 individuals despite the massive seizures) highlight the challenge of prosecuting those behind these trafficking operations.