41 tonnes of exotic Kenyan timber seized by Interpol en route to Asia
According to Interpol, the timber was nabbed between November 11 and December 6 last year during the operation dubbed Operation Thunder.
A consignment of 41 tonnes of exotic Kenyan timber was nabbed on its way to Asia, following the largest global operation against wildlife and forestry trafficking by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
According to the global police organisation, the timber was nabbed between November 11 and December 6 last year during the operation dubbed Operation Thunder.
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"Timber cases represent the most significant seizures, primarily occurring in sea cargo container shipments, while most other seizures took place at airports and mail processing hubs. Authorities also investigated online activities and found suspects using multiple profiles and linked accounts across social media platforms and marketplaces to expand their reach," Interpol said on Tuesday.
During the operation, 20,000 live animals including 18 big cats,12,427 birds, 12 pangolins, 33 primates, and reptiles (including 5,877 turtles, and 1,731 other assorted reptiles) were rescued, as hundreds and thousands of protected animal parts and derivatives trees, plants, marine life, and arthropods were seized and 365 suspects arrested.
The suspects were found to be using multiple profiles and linked accounts across social media platforms and marketplaces to expand their reach.
"Authorities arrested 365 suspects and identified six transnational criminal networks suspected of trafficking animals and plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Such species are illegally trafficked to meet specific market demands, whether for food, perceived medicinal benefits, "luxury" and collector items or as pets and competition animals," said the organisation.
The operation was jointly conducted by police officers, customs, and border control officials, and forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions making it the widest operation of the kind since 2017.
DNA tests
The recovered live animals were subjected to DNA analyses before they were transferred to conservation centres awaiting repatriation or rehabilitation in line with requisite national laws.
The DNA sampling was to aid in the prosecution of the cases, as it helps in confirming the animal species and their origin thus establishing whether there are new trafficking routes and emerging trends.
At the same time, the operation nabbed 100 companies involved in the trafficking of protected species.
"Organised crime networks are profiting from the demand for rare plants and animals, exploiting nature to fuel human greed. This has far-reaching consequences: it drives biodiversity loss, destroys communities, contributes to climate change, and even fuels conflict and instability," Interpol's Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said.
WCO Secretary General, Ian Saunders, noted a cooperation mechanism to facilitate the exchange of information and intelligence has been established in addition to refining enforcement strategies that address the crime that is often not a priority for many security agencies.
"The illegal wildlife trade is still rapidly growing, highly lucrative, and has devastating effects. The WCO remains committed to supporting its members and partners to effectively combat this serious crime," he said.
Other significant seizures included; 134 tonnes of timber also headed to Asia from Indonesia, 4,472 kg of pangolin scales from Nigeria, 6,500 live songbirds discovered during a vehicle inspection at the Syrian border with Turkey, 5,193 live red-eared ornamental slider turtles concealed in passenger suitcases arriving from Malaysia at Chennai Airport in India, 3,700 protected plants intercepted in Peru en route from Ecuador.
Others were eight rhino horns found in a suspect's luggage in Qatar while transiting from Mozambique to Thailand, a tonne of sea cucumbers, considered a seafood delicacy, had been smuggled to the United States from Nicaragua,973 kg of dried shark fins originating from Morocco seized at Hong Kong airport, eight tigers, aged between two months and two years were discovered in a suspected illegal breeding facility in the Czech Republic and 846 pieces of reticulated python skin, from the world's longest snake species, were fond concealed on board a ship in Indonesia.
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