INTERPOL Busts Hundreds

The illegal wildlife trade is alive and well but thanks to INTERPOL there are fewer criminals in the trade. An INTERPOL led operation against ivory trafficking resulted 376 arrests and the seizure of 4.5 tons of elephant ivory and rhino horn. In addition to the horn, police seized pangolin scales, snake skins, warthog teeth and 173 live tortoises. Operation Worthy II took place last year across eleven African countries with the cooperation of national law enforcement agencies. More of these types of operations must take place until the wildlife trade is reduced to a size that can be effectively engaged by local agencies. Many African nations, beset by serious humanitarian problems, are just beginning to see the trade in animal parts as a threat to their security and heritage.