In a landmark victory against wildlife trafficking, Interpol has concluded “Operation Thunder 2025,” a coordinated international crackdown involving law-enforcement agencies from 134 countries, resulting in the rescue of nearly 30,000 live animals and the seizure of massive quantities of illegal wildlife products. The month-long operation, carried out from mid-September to mid-October, uncovered extensive trafficking networks and led to over 4,600 seizures, including over 6,000 birds, more than 2,000 tortoises and turtles, 1,100 reptiles, 208 primates and 10 big cats, including endangered tigers, highlighting the enormous scale of illegal wildlife trade across continents. Authorities also confiscated nearly 1,900 pieces of elephant ivory, around 200 tons of marine species, and seven tons of pangolin scales and meat, showcasing the depth of transnational criminal syndicates involved in exploiting vulnerable species. Interpol emphasized that coordinated action, intelligence sharing and strict enforcement are essential to curbing this $20 billion-a-year industry and protecting biodiversity worldwide, as traffickers adapt to circumvent borders and exploit legal loopholes.
Interpol Operation Thunder 2025 Rescues Nearly 30,000 Trafficked Animals Worldwide
