INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization, is stepping up the fight to end the illegal tiger trade.
A two-month law enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL resulted in the arrest of 25 individuals suspected of taking part in the booming trade in tiger parts and derivatives. The effort involved national enforcement agencies in six tiger-range countries: China, India, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Major busts were made in Thailand and Vietnam, while an investigation in Russia revealed key trafficking routes. Most tiger parts end up in China to feed demand for traditional Chinese medicine.