THOUSANDS of live animals and tonnes of meat and ivory have been seized after a worldwide Interpol operation against the illegal trading of wildlife and timber.
Among those arrested were flight attendants carrying turtles in their baggage and a hunter who posted his illegal trophies on social media.
Operation ‘Thunderstorm’, which made identified 1400 suspects, involved police, customs, border, environment, and forestry agencies in 92 countries.
Almost 2000 seizures, worth millions of dollars, include 43 tonnes of wild meat – including elephant, crocodile, whale and zebra – 1.3 tonnes of elephant ivory, 27,000 reptiles, almost 4000 birds, 48 live primates, 14 big cats and the carcasses of seven bears, including two polar bears.
Several tonnes of wood and timber were also seized.
Interpol chief Jurgen Stock said the operation reveals “how wildlife trafficking groups use the same routes as criminals involved in other crime areas – often hand-in-hand with tax evasion, corruption, money laundering and violent crime”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here