From 15 Sep to 15 October, 134 countries made a total of 4,640 seizures during Operation Thunder 2025. This record number of seizures included tens of thousands of protected animals and plants and tens of thousands of cubic meters of illegally logged timber, as well as more than 30 tons of species classified as endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Significant seizures around the world:

South African authorities arrested 24 suspects and seized protected succulents, live pangolins and over 17,000 abalone (sea snails), as well as unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

A shipment from Asia intercepted at a North American mail center contained over 1,300 primate body parts including bones skulls and other derivatives.

Indonesian authorities seized over 3,000 birds and 7,000 arthropods including, butterflies, spiders, and centipedes.

Brazilian authorities dismantled a trafficking network, identified 145 suspects and rescued over 200 wild animals, including a crackdown on an international golden lion tamarin trafficking ring.

Tanzanian law enforcement and CITES seized over 100 ivory tusks and pieces worth USD 415,000 and over 140 hippopotamus teeth worth USD 40,000.

Authorities in Qatar arrested an individual trying to sell an endangered primate for USD 14,000 on social media.

Mexican authorities seized seven animals in Sinaloa, including two tigers, along with firearm components frequently associated with organized crime activities.

More than 40 shipments of insects and 80 shipments of butterflies, originating in Germany, Slovakia and the UK, were intercepted at a US mail center.

French customs seized 107 ivory pieces from marketplaces, while Austrian customs raided an online ivory dealer's home and recovered six more pieces.

Vietnamese authorities arrested two individuals on a fishing vessel carrying 4.2 tons of pangolin scales and other reptile and bird parts.

In the Dominican Republic, authorities detained 90 individuals for crimes linked to illegal logging.

Germany intercepted over 1,000 illegal wildlife and forestry items including ivory, reptile parts, coral, plant derivatives and live specimens, primarily at mail centers and airports.