Camilla Jessen
Wildlife trafficking hits record highs, Interpol warns.
Live animal trafficking has reached its highest level on record, Interpol announced on Thursday, following a global operation that uncovered nearly 30,000 trafficked animals and identified more than 1,100 suspects.
The international police agency said the illegal wildlife trade, including plants and timber, continues to grow, with seizures this year highlighting both the scale and the sophistication of criminal networks involved.
Interpol now estimates the global trade to be worth at least $20 billion annually, though the true figure is likely far higher due to the hidden nature of the activity.
Thousands of animals rescued
The coordinated operation, carried out between September and October, involved law enforcement from 134 countries.
Officers intercepted:
- 6,160 birds
- 2,040 turtles
- 1,150 reptiles
- 208 primates
- 46 pangolins
- 10 big cats
- 19,415 other wild animals
Interpol said demand for exotic pets continues to drive much of the trade.
In Qatar, authorities arrested a man attempting to sell an endangered primate on social media for $14,000.
In Brazil, police identified 145 suspects and rescued more than 200 wild animals, dismantling a trafficking ring targeting the endangered golden lion tamarin.
Links to wider organized crime
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said wildlife trafficking is increasingly tied to broader criminal activity, including drug and human trafficking.
Criminal groups are also using cryptocurrencies to hide financial flows, making international cooperation essential.
The crackdown also revealed the scale of illegal plant trade.
Officers seized 32,000 cubic meters of wood, underscoring the reach of illegal logging operations that supply an estimated 15% to 30% of the world’s timber market.
Surge in illegal bushmeat
The operation highlighted a growing market for illegal wild animal meat, including monkeys, giraffes, zebras and antelopes, with a notable rise in smuggling routes from Africa to Europe.
Authorities seized 5.8 tones of bushmeat.
Even insects are being targeted.
Almost 10,500 butterflies, spiders and other invertebrates were confiscated, Interpol said, pointing to a broadening black market in rare species.
Sources: Interpol; AFP; Agerpres.
