Interpol announces the dismantling of a network of protected turtle traffickers

Interpol announced this Friday the end of an investigation that facilitated the dismantling of a network of protected species and detention of 15 of its members. Thus, it has been possible to return to Tanzania a hundred turtles confiscated in Bangkok in 2022.

“This issue demonstrates the determination of international order forces to protect vulnerable species, to end the illegal trafficking of wild species and bring criminals to justice,” Cyril Gout, interim executive director of the interim executive of the interim executive of the Interpol police services.

Everything began in July 2022 at Bangkok airport, with the discovery of 116 Turtle Babies in the luggage of a Ukrainian woman Coming from giving Es-Salaam, the International Criminal Police Organization has specified.

These are terrestrial turtles, radiated turtles and giant turtles of Aldabra, all protected by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), according to Interpol.

The alleged trafficker managed to flee from Thailand before being judged. The researchers They finally managed to locate it in Bulgaria In March 2023. Three months later, she was transferred to Tanzania, who had asked Interpol to spread a “red notification” to its member countries.

The investigation has facilitated the arrest of another 14 people suspected of belonging to the same network as the Ukrainian, originally from Egypt, Indonesia, Madagascar and Tanzania, according to Interpol.

About the turtles seized in 2022, Only about twenty survived. Both the living and the dead, all were repatriated to Tanzania “as proof” in the framework of the processes initiated against the alleged trafficker.

The surviving turtles were placed in quarantine before being sent all certain to their natural habitat.