Operation Thunder 2025, held from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and coordinated by Interpol and the WCO across 134 countries, rescued nearly 30,000 live animals and led to 4,640 seizures and about 1,100 suspects identified. Authorities confiscated more than 30 tonnes of CITES-listed species and 32,000 cubic metres of illegal timber, with record hauls of bushmeat and protected marine life. Officials warned the trade is increasingly tied to organized crime and digital assets, and said the intelligence gathered will support future investigations and conservation efforts.
Operation Thunder 2025: Nearly 30,000 Live Animals Rescued in Massive Global Crackdown
INTERPOLMalaysian authorities seize a black gibbon and two cuscuses.
Nearly 30,000 live animals were rescued during Operation Thunder 2025, a coordinated month-long enforcement effort across 134 countries that exposed the scale and sophistication of global wildlife trafficking, officials said.
INTERPOLTortoises intercepted in Tanzania during Operation Thunder 2025.
Operation Overview
From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), supported by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime, coordinated raids, inspections and seizures that produced 4,640 recorded actions worldwide and identified roughly 1,100 suspects. Authorities intercepted large volumes of protected wildlife, plants, animal parts and illegally harvested timber during the operation.
INTERPOLSeizures in Thailand also included primates.
Major Seizures And Examples
The operation recorded unprecedented live rescues — including more than 3,000 birds in Indonesia and over 1,000 birds seized in Brazil — and recoveries of pangolins in Laos, Egyptian tortoises in Thailand, gibbons and cuscuses in Malaysia, and shipments of hatching eggs in Australia. In total, law enforcement seized more than 30 tonnes of species listed under CITES and confiscated 32,000 cubic metres of illegally logged timber.
INTERPOLIndonesian authorities seized a shipment of more than 3,000 birds.
Body Parts, Marine Life And Plants
Investigators emphasized that much trafficking still focuses on animal parts and derivatives — from severed primate limbs to shark fins and elephant hair — which are used in traditional medicine, luxury foods or as decorative items. Marine trafficking surged as well: officials reported over 245 tonnes of protected marine species seized, including thousands of shark fins. Authorities also confiscated more than 10 tonnes of live plants and plant derivatives during the operation.
INTERPOLIvory seized in Angola.
Emerging Threats
Operation Thunder 2025 highlighted several rising threats. Law enforcement reported a sharp increase in bushmeat shipments into Europe: Belgian officials intercepted primate meat, Kenyan authorities seized more than 400 kg of giraffe meat, and Tanzanian agencies recovered zebra and antelope products. Globally, a record 5.8 tonnes of bushmeat were seized. Investigators also recovered nearly 10,500 insects and other arthropods, including butterflies, spiders and beetles.
Organized Crime Links And Financial Scale
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza warned that wildlife trafficking increasingly intersects with other forms of organized crime, including drug trafficking and human exploitation, saying these networks "target vulnerable species, undermine the rule of law, and endanger communities worldwide." WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders underlined the central role of customs agencies and pledged continued technical assistance and intelligence-sharing to disrupt cross-border criminal enterprises.
"Recognizing these deeply interconnected crime threats, Interpol is committed to strengthening global policing responses, dismantling the entire ecosystem of illicit activity, and protecting our planet's shared natural and human heritage."
- Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol Secretary General
Officials estimate wildlife crime generates at least $20 billion annually, with the true value likely higher given the market's hidden nature. Investigations noted an increasing use of cryptocurrencies and digital tools by traffickers to facilitate payments and evade detection.
Next Steps
Beyond arrests and rescues, authorities say the intelligence gathered will help map transnational criminal networks, guide future investigations and support long-term conservation and protection for vulnerable species and ecosystems. Interpol, the WCO and partner agencies plan to deepen intelligence exchange, enhance technical training for customs and police, and pursue coordinated legal and enforcement actions against trafficking syndicates.
