Live animal trafficking reached unprecedented levels in 2025, Interpol announced Thursday at the conclusion of a massive international crackdown that resulted in the seizure of nearly 30,000 live animals and the identification of about 1,100 suspects.
Interpol said law enforcement agencies from 134 countries took part in Operation Thunder 2025, carried out between September 15 and October 15, which also included major seizures of protected plants and illegally logged timber.
According to Interpol, the live animals intercepted included thousands of exotic species sought after in the global pet trade. The haul comprised 6,160 birds, 2,040 turtles, 1,150 reptiles, 208 primates, 46 pangolins and 10 big cats, along with more than 19,000 other wild animals.
In a statement, Interpol’s Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted that these trafficking networks are being driven in large part by rising demand for exotic pets and are increasingly tied to other forms of serious crime. The operation also uncovered sharp increases in trafficking of butterflies, spiders and insects, with nearly 10,500 arthropods seized worldwide.
Interpol said the global illegal wildlife market is estimated at around $20 billion per year, but because of its clandestine nature the real figure is likely much higher.
The operation also drew attention to the illicit trade in “bushmeat” — wild animal meat often trafficked for food — with a record 5.8 tonnes confiscated and notable interceptions of giraffe and zebra meat.
Authorities participating in Operation Thunder 2025 emphasized that transnational cooperation and intelligence sharing were critical to disrupting trafficking routes and identifying suspects, while also highlighting the environmental and public health risks posed by the global wildlife trade.
