Mapping the smugglers cultural networks. Main international airports are hubs for trafficking in SEA/ME

 

Asia, South America, Middle East and Africa are the most active networks in wildlife trafficking and illegal trade. Furthermore with our research, we identified routes connecting sea islands and Peninsulas in the Indian Pacific, SAARC and South East Asia regions and Europe with the Caribbeans/Brazil for wildlife trafficking following slave trade routes of cultural heritage.

 

Wildlife trade is the buying and selling of animals and plants. It involves a multitude of countries, species and ‘commodities’ being exchanged. 

Entire animals and plants, living or dead, as well as parts and products made from them are traded. It can be legal or illegal, and both generate billions of dollars annually. After habitat destruction, wildlife trade is the second biggest threat to species survival.

Wildlife crime fosters corruption, weakens governance structures, and sometimes finances armed groups and conflicts.

Wildlife trafficking represents one of the most profitable illegal trades globally, ranking alongside drugs, weapons, and human trafficking.

A significant portion of wildlife trafficking is driven by luxury consumption, where rare animal products serve as status symbols.

In many markets, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, possession of rare wildlife products signals wealth, social standing, and cultural sophistication.

Unfortunately we have seen no signs of improvements these past years.

 

Thailand’s Tiger Temple Probed for Links to Animal Trafficking.

 

Thai authorities say they have detained a monk attempting to smuggle tiger skins and fangs from a Buddhist temple Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, in Kanchanaburi province.
On Wednesday, wildlife officials found the bodies of 40 dead tiger cubs at the temple complex.

Tiger populations have plummeted by 97% over the last century, with fewer than 3,900 remaining in the wild.

Please keep in mind that story. Animal trafficking reached records in 2025 and is one of the most lucrative market ($ 20 billions worth).

Madagascar lemur, tortoise in Thai, are on rise following our research on wildlife trafficking networks.

In May, authorities in southern Thailand arrested six people for illegally transporting 48 lemurs and more than 1,200 critically endangered tortoises, all of which had reportedly been obtained from the wild in Madagascar.

Authorities discovered the animals caged and boxed in cramped conditions in six pickup trucks in Chumphon province on May 1. The authorities were acting on intelligence from an international investigation operating in the country to clamp down on cross-border organized wildlife crime.

The animals had been smuggled by sea into Thailand’s Satun province via Sumatra in Indonesia, according to Wacharin Pusit, a commander from the Royal Thai Police.

 

Cambodian Officials Charged with Wildlife Trafficking, a ‘Wake-Up Call’ for Global Monkey Trade
 

En route to a meeting about protecting threatened species, a government official was arrested for smuggling endangered monkeys, raising questions about Cambodia’s breeding industry.

Masphal Kry was en route to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species. As the deputy director of wildlife and biodiversity for Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, this was part of his job.

But in what conservationists call an “ironic tragedy,” Kry was apprehended in New York for smuggling endangered wild monkeys into the United States.

Last Tuesday, police found seven frozen tigers in a car parked in the basement parking lot in Hà Nội.

Many experts forecast that after the rhino’s extinction in Việt Nam in 2010, tigers will follow.

 

Racket trafficking Bengal monitor lizards busted in Odisha, India.
 

The illicit trade of these reptiles, driven by demand for exotic pets, traditional medicine, and even fashion accessories, is causing detrimental impacts on wild populations, ecosystems, and conservation efforts.

The species is one of the most illegally traded reptiles and its population is dwindling due to trafficking activities in the Bay of Bengal.

African tortoise were seized from wildlife trafficking gang in Srikakulam.

Three persons were arrested in Andhra's Srikakulam for wildlife trafficking rare wild animals seized included tortoises, pythons and serval cats.

 

Wildlife trafficking. 3000 species uncovered at Mexico-US borders

 

Project santa Maria informed us that parrots were mistreated and found in critical state with serious injuries. One of them arrived at the center with necrosis and in state of decomposition. Another one was showing signs of an old fracture never treated before.

Many of the governmental authorities involved at stopping wildlife trafficking as police at borders, customs, officials at Ministries of Environment, global agencies and NGOs, are complicit and are just trying to catch up with the illegal trade or exploit aids.

 

EU remains a major hub for wildlife trafficking

 

EU remains a significant market for wildlife trafficking, as commercial entities and individuals continue to smuggle wild species and their products into, through, and from EU Member States, - Anastasiya Timoshyna, Director of TRAFFIC’s European Programme Office. The report highlights key trends, species in trade, enforcement efforts, and areas for policy attention in this landmark year for the region, with the CITES CoP20, and the 20th anniversary of EU-TWIX on the horizon.”

Global Trade Routes: The EU remains a major hub for wildlife trafficking, with 86% of seized goods destined for the EU. The USA and UK were frequent destinations for commodities destined for a country beyond the EU. Top exporters included Thailand, the USA, Ukraine, mainland China, and India.

 

Brazil's largest wildlife trafficking ring smashed

 

Brazilian police have arrested 45 people and rescued hundreds of exotic animals in the biggest ever operation against wildlife traffickers in the world’s most biodiverse nation.

Brightly coloured birds like toucans and macaws, boxes of tortoises, monkeys and a python were among 700 rescued animals taken to a central facility to receive expert care.

Forensic police carried the rescued animals in cages to be seen by veterinarians, covering some with blankets before their check-ups.

More than a thousand officers took part in the bust across Rio de Janeiro and other states, which was “the largest operation in Brazil’s history to combat the trafficking of wild animals, weapons, and ammunition”, a police statement said.

Parrots trafficked from Amazonia

Wild life trafficking in Brazil threatens Amazon biodiversity. The most lucrative business in Brazil apart of exotic birds is the resale of turtle eggs as well as exotic fishes for traditional medicine and luxury clients.

A way to understand comprehensively Latin America & Caribbeans markets.

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the market for guts, bladders, and stomachs of animals in Latin America and the Caribbean. It details that consumption in 2024 was 764K tons, valued at $2B, with Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina as the top consumers. Production reached 844K tons, led by Brazil. The region is a net exporter, with Brazil being the largest exporter and Mexico the largest importer. The market is forecast to grow to 922K tons and $2.5B by 2035, driven by increasing demand, with anticipated CAGRs of +1.7% in volume and +1.9% in value from 2024-2035. 

 

Trafficking ring involving thousands of turtles uncovered by Florida wildlife officials
 

The FWC launched the investigation in February 2018 after receiving a tip from the public. Investigators determine that a "ring of well-organized wildlife traffickers" was catching and selling the turtles to large-scale reptile dealers and illegal distributors, who would then ship most of them overseas on the black market, according to the release.

The turtles were sold wholesale for up to $300 each and retailed for as much as $10,000 in Asia. In one month alone, an estimated $60,000 worth of turtles were trafficked out of Florida, according to the FWC.

While the turtles were mostly sold for cash, the poachers would occasionally trade them for marijuana products, officials said.

 

Cheetah are being decimated in Kenya to serve as pets in the Gulf

 

Wildlife trade is the buying and selling of animals and plants. It involves a multitude of countries, species and ‘commodities’ being exchanged. 

Entire animals and plants, living or dead, as well as parts and products made from them are traded. It can be legal or illegal, and both generate billions of dollars annually. After habitat destruction, wildlife trade is the second biggest threat to species survival.

Out of Kenya.
Eleven cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland.
The cubs were packed in bags that resembled sacks of potatoes and were being transported in a small dhow off the Somaliland coast at Berbera.

Two locals and three Yemenis were arrested for trafficking the cubs to the Gulf.

 

Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, is a major transit hub for the illegal wildlife trade
 

Hundreds of cheetahs and leopards from the Horn of Africa have been transported to Gulf countries through the Gulf of Aden.

Ten cheetah cubs, held captive since birth and destined for international wildlife trade were rescued.

The cubs were very malnourished and were being reintroduced to food slowly, starting with fluids.

The cubs were in very poor condition. One died only a few hours after arriving at CCF’s centre, although in ICU and critical care administered. Another died the next day under same conditions. Two others are in critical care, one of which is in very bad state. The other seven are responding.

Traditionnally the practice has been linked to local farmers who share land with these animals or encroach on their natural habitat.
Criminal groups transport the cubs to Somalia by motorcycle, exploiting borders control.

From Somalia, they are shipped to Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen, where they are sold to exotic pet collectors and private zoos for up to KES3.8 million (almost US$30 000) each.

Poachers may use technology such as drones to spy, identify and capture wild animals. Governments, international bodies and tech companies may be involved at the border. Social media platforms may host traffickants.

If we could turn back the hands of time.

 

Tortoises and rhino horns trafficked in Madagascar, South Africa to Thailand, Cambodge and Vietnam

 

Two years ago an ukrainien woman was arrested at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport with more than 116 baby tortoises. Transnational networks are responsible for trafficking lemurs and tortoises in Madagascar to Southern Thailand. With political figures and organises networks allegedly involved, environmental groups and NGOs are under scrutiny. 

 

Rhino horns found in Vietnam in illegal global trade originate from South Africa.

 

WWF Under Fire for Facilitating Trade in Polar Bear Fur

 

A two-year investigation has revealed that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a leading wildlife conservation charity, has been involved in facilitating the commercial trade of polar bear fur while simultaneously using the species to drive conservation fundraising efforts.

Polar bears are increasingly at risk due to climate change, with diminishing Arctic sea ice making it harder for them to hunt and leading to declining physical conditions, fewer cubs, and shorter lifespans. Despite these threats, Canada remains the only country to allow commercial hunting of polar bears, exporting from 300 to 400 skins annually, primarily to China, where a single pelt can sell for up to $60,000.

Cheers!