2 November 2010: A worldwide operation against the illegal trade in reptiles and amphibians, coordinated by INTERPOL and involving 51 countries, has resulted in arrests and the seizure of thousands of animals as well as of products worth more than EUR 25 million.

With the participation of national wildlife enforcement authorities, police, customs and specialized units, the two-month operation focused particularly on illegal activities relating to the trade and possession of endangered reptiles, such as turtles, Boa constrictors, and other snakes. On the sidelines of a meeting with INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald Noble, CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon highlighted the close working relationship between CITES and INTERPOL and said, “The fact that INTERPOL helps coordinate such worldwide operations illustrates the level of serious criminality that is now commonly linked to illegal trade in wildlife.” [INTERPOL Media Release]