(*18*) Thunder 2020: India Customs intercepts 18 tonnes red sandalwood

The India Customs intercepted an 18-tonne cargo of red sandalwood destined for the United Arab Emirates, throughout a month-long “Operation Thunder 2020”, coordinated by the Interpol and the World Customs Organisation, which concerned legislation enforcement companies in 103 nations.

The operation towards environmental crime was held from September 14 to October 11. It resulted in giant seizures of protected wildlife and forestry specimens and merchandise, triggering arrests and investigations worldwide, mentioned the Interpol. “Focusing on pre-identified routes and hotspots, ‘Operation Thunder 2020’ resulted in more than 2,000 seizures of wildlife and forestry products. In total, 699 offenders were apprehended and at least one Interpol Red Notice has already been requested based on information gained during the operation. Further arrests and prosecutions are anticipated as ongoing global investigations progress,” it mentioned.

The taking part nations targeted primarily on the species protected beneath the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Mexican legislation enforcement rescued an grownup feminine white tiger, a jaguar and a four-month previous lion cub in Sinaloa. “In Cameroon, customs officers seized 187 raw elephant tusks from a truck crossing the border from Gabon. In total, 56,200 kg of marine products were seized during Operation Thunder 2020,” mentioned the Interpol, including that the Peruvian police seized a cargo of 11 tonnes of mutilated sharks.

Besides, 1,160 birds and 15,878 kg of crops had been seized throughout the operation. The police in Zimbabwe thwarted the switch of 32 stay chimpanzees from Congo. The seized contraband included greater than 1.3 tonnes of ivory, over 1 tonne of pangolin scales, 87 truckloads of timber, 1,400 turtles and tortoises, 6,000 turtle or tortoise eggs and 1,800 reptiles.

“Wildlife and forestry crime is the world’s fourth largest illegal trade — a lucrative illegal business with far-reaching and devastating consequences not just for the environment but also for society, public health and global economics,” mentioned Interpol Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, in a press release.

The Interpol, which is celebrating 10 years of tackling organised environmental crime, mentioned the Covid-19 pandemic posed a number of challenges to the operations. “Moreover, field officers are regularly attacked by poachers and crime syndicates. During this operation, five police officers and three forestry police officers in North Macedonia were attacked — two of them seriously injured — while attempting to prevent illegal logging activities,” it mentioned.

“Operation Thunder 2020” is the fourth in a collection of “Thunder” operations carried out yearly since 2017.