Illegal Wildlife Trade In the News

3 suspects arrested for trafficking wildlife in Cameroon

Animal and plant trafficking is thriving on the dark web — particularly for medicinal purposes

Authorities arrest four suspects in poaching syndicate

Chinese ivory smugglers fail to overturn Sh54 billion fine

Damning evidence emerges in Cambodian monkey smuggling case

Dried seahorse seized in Zamboanga

Four nabbed at Sibu premises for attempting to smuggle RM2.5mil worth of bird’s nests

Malaysian woman caught with protected marmoset in Narathiwat

Private company found to be involved in Prey Lang illegal logging

Reptile Smuggling Attempt At Chennai Airport – Astounding 22 Snakes Seized

Coast Guard seizes 115 kg of sea cucumbers from smugglers in TN

Illegal pangolin widely used in China’s hospitals, pharmacies

Lorry driver smuggled animals from M'sia into S’pore; 19 dogs died

PH a hotspot of illegal trade in giant clams in Southeast Asia, says report

Six langurs killed, two hunters arrested in Kaeng Prachan National Park

Take a good look at these strange-looking turtles. They could soon be extinct

Tanzania forces the Maasai from their land to make way for trophy hunters and tourists

UAE swoops to clamp down on illegal hunters and poachers

Vietnam seizes 16 kg of smuggled rhino horns, ivory

Woman detained at Chennai airport for suspected wildlife smuggling

‘Cruel trade’: Native lizards smuggled in Ugg boots

ED arrests sea cucumber smuggling racket kingpin in Tamil Nadu

Five arrested in Delhi for smuggling Bengal tiger skins

Macaques bound for China found stuffed in smugglers' cages

Man caught transporting hyenas in North West... while out on bail for illegal possession of lion cubs

Mexico just got slapped with rare sanctions for its failure to protect wildlife. Here’s why.

Miami art dealer sentenced to more than four years in prison for smuggling ivory sculptures

Miami Traveler Arrested for Egg-Smuggling After Suitcase Starts Chirping, Feds Say

Timber smugglers build road inside Arunachal tiger reserve

Vietnam seizes 7 tonnes ivory in largest wildlife smuggling case in years

VICTORY: Peru will now prosecute illegal wildlife trafficking as a form of organized crime

New AI system fights illegal online wildlife trade

Over 1,000 pangolins poached and trafficked in India between 2018 and 2022

Social media firms urged to fight online wildlife trade

1.37 mln wild animals, 180,000 kg of wildlife products seized during special action from 2020-22 in China: Public Security Ministry

Illegal traders refer to giraffes as “motorbikes” because selling their body parts can fetch enough money to buy a motorcycle

Man arrested for selling baby crocs on TikTok

Vietnam jails trafficker for 13 years over 10-tonne haul of ivory, rhino horn

Thai poaching kingpin is on the run after prison sentence

US, Vietnam to counter wildlife trafficking through sea ports

Thai government turns its sights on illegal coral trade

Rhino poaching declines in Kruger, but poachers are on the rampage in KZN

Rhino Horns, Elephant Ivory Seized After Busting Smugglers In Vadodara

Canada’s financial intelligence unit steps up fight against illegal wildlife trade

South Africa and United States partner to stem illegal wildlife trade

Conspirators Sentenced in Multimillion-Dollar Reptile Smuggling Scheme

Turtles are vulnerable to illegal wildlife trade

Illegal wildlife trade continues to threaten African elephants

A CSU professor is using supply chain research to tackle illegal wildlife trafficking

China's aim to be a wildlife conservation leader undermined by its exploitation of endangered species

How Asian appetites for abalone - ‘white gold’ - foster crime in South Africa that threatens diners’ safety

Illegal animal trade, hunting threaten multimillion naira wildlife tourism industry

Namibia rhino poaching surged 93% in 2022

Colombia and the United Kingdom renew their strategic partnership on climate and nature

185 exotic wildlife valued at P800,000 rescued in Laguna – DENR

Cambodian official arrested on wildlife trafficking charges could serve as ‘wake-up call’ for primate trade

CG Strike Force ‘A’ Intercepts Pangolin Scales, Red Wine, Smuggled Rice Worth N1billion

Conservationists hail US plan to ban shark fin trade

Electronic permits seen as solution to illegal wildlife trade

Endangered pangolins rescued from illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam

For Philippine pangolins, tourism’s return could spell trouble

Global crackdown on illegal wildlife and timber trade: the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL join forces

Ground-breaking report raises concerns over global wildlife trade

How China’s Appetite for Rosewood Fuels Illegal Logging in Ghana

Illegal wildlife trade hotspot Peru steps up fight against traffickers

In the underbelly of e-commerce sites, 'cyber spotters' are hunting down illegal wildlife listings

Intelligence and criminal blacklists are vital to tackling illegal wildlife trade on the high seas

Joint operation results in rhino horn seizure

Laos having hard time clamping down on wildlife trafficking

More Than 30 Wild Animals Kept As Illegal Pets In Karnataka Politician's House Seized By Forest Officials

Odisha: Kingpin nabbed in Royal Bengal Tiger skin seizure case

Over 150 firearms seized in Mozambique’s anti-poaching efforts in 2022: local media

Poachers target hippos for giant teeth in place of ivory

Rhino horn in KFC bag: Two men in custody for carrying rhino horns worth R870 000

Routes for smuggling wildlife across countries often the ones used to traffic weapons, drugs: Report

Sea Cucumbers Worth Rs 1.35 Cr Seized In TN

STF arrests wildlife criminal, seizes leopard cat skin

Thailand Leads Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Fight in Southeast Asia: Government Regulators and Global Maritime Industry Titans Meet in Bangkok to Counter IWT

The China Client: Wildlife Trafficking in Mexico

The industry that ‘Tiger King’ made famous will soon be illegal

Tiger cub found by Mexico police in couple's car boot

Traffickers use govt portal to evade authorities while smuggling animals

Whale ‘waste’, dried seahorses, ivory: Intelligence agency DRI flags rise in illegal wildlife trade

Wildlife Trafficker Sentenced To 57 Months For Large-Scale Trafficking Of Rhinoceros Horns And Elephant Ivory

Forest management tool could help rein in rampant wildlife trade in Bangladesh

Cambodian Officials Charged with Wildlife Trafficking, a ‘Wake-Up Call’ for Global Monkey Trade

Fight against international wildlife crime stepped up

Probe finds Vietnam faltering in bid to curb wildlife trade, animal suffering

Illegal wildlife trafficking in Mexico is ‘out of control,’ nonprofit finds

Wildlife crime remained at record highs in 2021, report suggests

Commentary: Singapore’s S$1.2m rhino horn seizure another reminder of need to combat wildlife trafficking

Panama confronts illegal trafficking of animals

Predators of predators: the snaring crisis threatening the survival of Asia's big cats

The wildlife poaching problem the world isn't paying attention to

Myanmar, a country in turmoil, emerging as key transit hub for wildlife trade: Report

Is China finally ready to lead in protecting nature?

Exotic Pets And A Deep Dive Into Luxury, Wildlife Trade And Invasive Species

Hundreds Of Social Media Videos With Billions Of Views Show Wild Animals Being Tortured, Report Finds

Chinese and Vietnamese Customs strengthen bilateral cooperation to more efficiently combat illegal wildlife trade at borders

Smugglers trafficking rhino horns with impunity: report

5 arrested after rare tokay gecko lizard seized in Bihar's Purnea

Seven exotic primates, drugs seized in southern Assam

Smuggling of exotic animals: Is Northeast becoming the next big hub?

4 exotic animals found in passenger's luggage at Chennai airport

Four tiger cubs seized from man in Thailand’s Mukdahan province

Wildlife SOS Busts Illegal Trade Of Live Animals And Body Parts In Gujarat

India's high demand for exotic pets leads to rise in animal smuggling

India becoming global tiger poaching hotspot

15 alleged poachers apprehended

Wildlife summit could upend Hong Kong's shark fin trade

Uttarakhand: Over 3kg Pangolin scales seized in US Nagar, 6 held

Indonesia’s orangutans declining amid ‘lax’ and ‘laissez-faire’ law enforcement

Saudi Arabia seizes wolf and lions from private residence

Hong Kong’s Largest Sea Smuggling Case Busted With $300 Million Worth Of Items, Including Shark Fins, Seized

How the global donkey skin trade risks spreading deadly diseases

National Parks Board seizes 34 kg of rhinoceros horns; largest seizure of rhinoceros horns in Singapore to date

55 rhinos, 2 elephants poached in Namibia since January: minister

A fast-growing pipeline: The Amazon-to-Southeast Asia wildlife trade

Treasury Sanctions Wildlife Trafficking Organized Crime Group

MEPs call for an end to all illegal trade in wildlife by 2025

Follow the money: An intelligence agent's methods for busting wildlife traffickers

Prince William warns of organised crime threat to wildlife

Ghana- Let's Fight Money Laundering Through Illegal Wildlife Trade

Ugandan Ivory Trader Gets a Life Sentence in a Landmark Ruling

Khaki cops: Aust Zoo turns crimefighter to tackle illegal trade

‘Astonishing’: global demand for exotic pets is driving a massive trade in unprotected wildlife

Australian researchers developed a new artificial intelligence to fight wildlife trafficking

Zero Snaring campaign underway in Mondulkiri

In China's latest Wildlife Protection Law revision, conservation once again gives way to exploitation

Porous borders making Northeast hub of wildlife trade

Tracking Social Media to Uncover Ivory Trafficking in Rwanda

Traffickers of Galápagos Wildlife Receive Jail Sentence for Smuggling Attempt

Festival of Lights Brings A Dark Time For Owls In India

Feasting on the forbidden: Tales of unending wildlife, environmental crimes

Poaching surges in the birthplace of white rhino conservation

EU and US prosecutors stepping up cooperation in fight against environmental crime

Brothers sentenced for roles in conspiracy to smuggle native turtles from the U.S.

Free-for-all bush-meat trade adds pressure to wildlife conservation efforts

Cambodia calls for end to wildlife consumption

Tete: Poacher arrested with 94 kilos of elephant tusks

Silent Forests: Post-pandemic wildlife consumption threatens human and forest health

Illegal trade of Indonesia’s protected wild birds rampant in PH – study

Suspected poachers arrested with game meat in L. Mburo NP

Isotope data strengthens suspicions of ivory stockpile theft

New study reveals shocking white rhino declines

Businessman fined $50,000 for possession of exotic birds

Nigeria Customs: Good example of Inter-agency collaboration (2)

Wildlife crime goes digital, WCCB increases vigilance

Costa Rica probing links between wildlife trade, organized crime

Police nab illegal wildlife trader in Pasay

China crackdown on ivory trade deters smugglers, Hague report finds

Big data monitoring tool aims to catch up to Indonesia’s booming online bird trade

Africa: Trafficking Could Mean the Last Flight for African Greys

Illegal trade in exotic animals booms as Indian ‘pet lovers’ go wild

Pakistan's pangolins need more than armour

South Africa: SARS Operations Net Wildlife Criminals, Tax Evaders

One held for illegal trade of wild animals at Harike sanctuary

ASU study: Over 1.1 million sea turtles poached in past 3 decades

Grove man arrested as over £18,000 worth of sperm whale teeth seized by Thames Valley Police

Two members of Ireland’s infamous Dead Zoo gang placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list

Trafficked: Kidnapped chimps, jailed rhino horn traffickers, and seized donkey parts

4 held for smuggling leopard skin in Nashik

Man pleads guilty to wildlife trafficking after smuggling 1,700+ animals into the US

Two busted for wildlife trafficking

EU continues to be a major destination for stolen wildlife

Major CITES meeting has a golden opportunity to turn the tide against rhino poachers and traffickers

Piura: trailer intervenes with 11 tons of palo santo, a critically endangered species

Smugglers carve destructive niche in Africa’s rosewood timber resources

How increase in bushmeat demand fuels illegal hunting

Calls for wildlife crime to be recognised as transnational crime

DFFE addresses illegal trade of succulents

Trafficked: Kidnapped chimps, jailed rhino horn traffickers, and seized donkey parts

Indonesia navy accused of smuggling Papuan wildlife

China the top destination for trafficked sea turtles, study finds

P900,000 worth of illegally cut lumber seized in Nueva Vizcaya

Oxnard Man Pleads Guilty to Wildlife Smuggling and Trafficking Charges for Illegally Importing More Than 1,700 Animals into U.S.

Kenya: Wildlife trafficking suspect seized after $1m reward

Customs Arrest Eight Over Trafficking Of 397kg Pangolin Scales

How the pandemic has driven a surge in wildlife smuggling through North East India

Wildlife Trafficker From Uganda Sentenced To 63 Months For Large-Scale Trafficking Of Rhinoceros Horns And Elephant Ivory

Odisha: Forest department officials arrest elephant poacher accused in 8 cases

Iguanas, macaws, marmosets: Exotic animal craze turns Chennai into trafficking hub

Man smuggles snakes and lizards into America in his pants

New Indonesian seizure of helmeted hornbill casques shows trade ongoing, targeted investigations needed

Chinese authorities cracked down on nearly 12,000 wildlife crime cases in three months

Kachin’s illegal wildlife trade booms in post-coup free-for-all

Wildlife SOS Seizes Barn Owl In Gujarat Raid

Cheetahs to chimps: Trafficked wildlife a growing ‘status symbol’ in GCC, experts say

‘Astronomical Money’: How Smugglers Made Tens of Millions Moving Rare Birds Around the World

UNODC Concerned Nigeria is Primary Hub for Illicit Wildlife Products

Large haul of illegal wildlife products seized in Oudomxay

China launches campaign to crack down on illegal wildlife trade

Conway Man Sentenced for Importation and Possession of Illegally Taken Wildlife

Rhino Poaching Increases ‘Slightly’ in South Africa as Poachers Move Attention to KZN

Botswana’s President Masisi calls on international community to support legal ivory trade

Police arrest two smugglers with leopard skin in Chhattisgarh

Three Foreigners Arraigned Over Pangolin, Tusk Smuggling

Man in Mchinji arrested over ivory

CBI recovers 7 claws of tigers and leopards from Jaipur; 3 arrested

Fired Ezemvelo field ranger arrested for rhino horn trafficking

Massive ivory and menagerie of wildlife parts seized in Malaysian port

Seizures at Thailand’s main airport signal resurgence of wildlife smuggling via air

Two Foreign Nationals Plead Guilty to Trafficking Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Myanmar remains hotbed for wildlife trade along China, Thailand borders

Porcupines among 109 live animals smuggled in 2 suitcases discovered at Bangkok airport

Large-scale seizures ‘show illegal ivory trade thriving’ despite ban (Link)

Sellers of wild birds intercepted in Surigao Norte (Link)

Stiffer maximum fines and longer maximum jail terms for illegal wildlife traffickers (Link)

Three-legged tortoise rescued from smugglers is enjoying new life at Chester Zoo (Link)

Lust for giraffe meat, organs in Tanzania leading to extinction of tallest animal (Link)

SELLING ELEPHANTS: African countries nix Zimbabwe’s efforts to sell live elephants and its ivory stockpiles (Link)

9 kg ivory seized by STF; 1 held (Link)

Indian-origin Malaysian fined for smuggling pythons into Singapore (Link)

Driver fined, 2 reticulated pythons euthanised after illegal smuggling (Link)

Gabon takes grassroots approach in anti-poaching drive (Link)

Cops, Perhilitan conduct raids, seize 72 exotic birds worth RM700,000 in Perak (Link)

Three men arrested over firearms possession, involvement in illegal wildlife sales (Link)

Chimp genetic mapping could close off African trafficking routes (Link)

REPORT: Behavioural drivers of corruption facilitating illegal wildlife trade: Problem analysis and state of the field review (Link)

Smuggler nabbed with 26kg rhino horn at OR Tambo (Link)

Thai woman arrested for selling macaques via Facebook (Link)

In Santa Cruz they seize about 80 kilograms of wild animal meat (Link)

Sunda pangolins may go extinct in Sabah due to poaching, says state Wildlife director (Link)

Sale of donkey skins linked to trade in illegal wildlife products (Link)

Stiffer fines, longer jail term proposed for traffickers of endangered wildlife (Link)

Bangkok: more than 600 endangered or prohibited animals seized at Suvarnabhumi Airport (Link)

Vietnam yet to make major progress against wildlife crimes (Link)

Zimbabwe wants to sell ivory stash to fund elephant conservation (Link)

1.5 tonnes of elephant ivory seized in southeast DR Congo (Link)

Singapore: a forensics lab wields CSI-like tech against wildlife traffickers (Link)

Urgent action needed on primate protection (Link)

Punishing poachers raises hope of ending trafficking of African grey parrots (Link)

Large scale seizures ‘show illicit ivory trade thriving’ despite ban (Link)

Our Local Songbirds Are Being Trafficked Illegally, Says National Geographic Explorer (Link)

GOF8: foils attempt to smuggle in 541 wild birds (Link)

Four arrested in central Vietnam for tiger trade (Link)

Jaguar and other wild animal fur covers seized (Link)

Suspected elephant poachers shot dead by ZimParks rangers (Link)

REPORT: Orchids in India's illegal wildlife trade: A new factsheet released on International Day for Biological Diversity (Link)

Inside govt dilemma to fight wildlife trafficking (Daily Monitor - Uganda)

WWF report says online wildlife trade on rise in Myanmar (AP) (Link)

Economic growth and biodiversity adversely affected by wildlife crimes (Namibia Economist)

Sting operation nets three Thais trying to sell tiger cub via Facebook (The Nation - Thailand)

Laos: Boten Special Economic Zone/Boten Beautiful Land (The People's Map)

Leopard skin seized; 7 held (The Pioneer_ India)

2 live pythons being smuggled into S'pore seized (The Straits Times)

£24m zoo of death contained stuffed animals and trophies (The Times)

Golden Triangle: The world’s worst special economic zone (Link)

First of its kind project launches new tools to combat Wildlife Trafficking In India’s Airports (Link)

Inside Nigeria's Shocking Wildlife Crimes and How Culprits Escape Justice. (Link)

Kenya: Suspect arrested with wildlife trophies worth Sh5mn in Taita Tavete (Link)

Tiger ‘farms’ in Laos have actually been expanded, not shut down (Link)

Abalone trade is rife with violence and corruption (Link)

Killing of rare Ugandan gorilla a sad symbol of poaching surge. (Link)

Pangolin poachers disguise as loggers, charcoal buyers. (Link)

Mexican cartels are increasingly moving into wildlife crime. (Link)

DNA analysis offers clearest insight yet into illegal trafficking networks. (Link)

Traffic: Asia's Unceasing pangolin demand (Link)

Manatee rescue gives hope Nigeria will tackle trafficking. (Link)

Thailand: 3 men arrested after allegedly selling tiger, leopard skins to undercover police. (Link)

Cambodia: Officers seize monitor lizards, monkeys from farm suspected of exporting to restaurants. (Link)

Namibians fill courts for wildlife crimes. (Link)

On the front line in Liberia's fight to save the pangolin. (Link)

Nigeria: Again, Customs Intercepts N3.2bn Pangolin Scales, and Elephant Tusks in Lagos, AllAfrica.com. (Link)

China will continue as wildlife smuggling centre while demand exists: animal justice commission. (Link)

Five rangers, one soldier killed in Benin park ambush, Al Jazeera. (Link)

451 rhinos poached in South Africa during 2021, Save the Rhino. (Link)

Rare animal farm raided - Thailand, Bangkok Post. (Link)

Congolese rebels take endangered pangolin hostage and demand ransom, The Times. (Link)

Ivory, rhino horns, pangolin and tiger parts seized in transit from Africa to Asia, Interpol. (Link)

Demand for pet otters is driving a harmful trade, The Economist. (Link)

Da Nang seizes 6.2 tonnes of pangolin scales and 456 kg of ivory, Seej-Africa.org. (Link)

WildAid launches campaign against multi-billion dollar wildlife trading, BusinessDay.ng. (Link)

The pandemic is a gift to poachers in Africa, the Economist. (Link)

Rhino horns pierce a wall between crime and affluence in Vietnam, SouthEastAsiaGlobe.com. (Link)

Hong Kong ban on ivory sales comes into force, Channel News Asia. (Link)

Follow The Money ’To Uncover Online Criminal Wildlife Trade Networks says TRAFFIC China (Link)

Cameroon Deploys Military to Assist Rangers as Poaching Increases, VOA News (Link)

Vietnam jails rhino horn trafficker for 14 years - longest for the crime, says NGO, Strait Times (Link)

UAE Action against wildlife trafficking stifles demand for cheetah cubs as exotic pets, The National. (Link)

FATF High-Level Conference on Environmental Crime (Link)

'More money than drugs or guns': the illegal eel trade, France 24 (Link)

Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade: Turning Predators Into Prey, ACAMS today. (Link)

UN report praises UK efforts on wildlife and forest crime, UK Government. (Link)

Nov 2021: 2 Ivory Smugglers Captured in International Operation, U.S. Says, New York Times. (Link)

Nov 2021: In-depth report about financial flows associated with illegal wildlife trade in South Africa, by SAMLIT (Link)

Nov 2021: Global arrests and seizures: INTERPOL-WCO operation strikes wildlife and timber trafficking networks (Link)

Nov 2021: From Timber to Human Trafficking: Rescued Victims Allege Major Scam Operations in Tycoon’s SEZ (Link)

Sept 2021: Poaching in East Africa is Endangering the Survival of Cheetahs (Link)

Sept 2021: Tech Companies Block More than 11.6 Million Transactions for Endangered Wildlife Online (Link)

Aug 2021: Asia Pacific banks helping detect financial crime related to Illegal Wildlife Trade (Link)