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116 tortoises have been returned to Tanzania from Thailand to serve as crucial evidence in an ongoing case against a global smuggling network.
This announcement was made by Interpol on Friday, January 24, 2025.
The tortoises were initially discovered over two years ago at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. They were hidden inside the luggage of a Ukrainian woman, sparking a chain of investigations. Tragically, 98 of the tortoises have since died, leaving only 18 survivors. On Thursday, January 23, a handover ceremony took place, with officials from both Thailand and Tanzania in attendance. The reasons behind the high number of fatalities remain unclear.
Among the recovered tortoises were species classified as endangered, including the pancake tortoise, radiated tortoise, and Aldabra giant tortoise. These species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Wildlife experts note that tortoises like these are frequently poached and sold in illegal markets, often as exotic pets, contributing to their declining populations.
The Ukrainian woman who was initially caught attempting to smuggle the tortoises managed to flee but was later apprehended in Bulgaria. Her arrest led to a broader investigation that unraveled a wider trafficking network. This effort, supported by Tanzanian and Thai law enforcement alongside Interpol, resulted in the arrest of 14 additional suspects.
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The surviving tortoises will now be placed under quarantine and cared for while experts determine their readiness for reintroduction into the wild. Their survival stands as a small yet significant win in the fight against wildlife trafficking, a lucrative illegal trade valued at up to $20 billion annually.
Interpol emphasized the grave threats posed by this underground trade, not only to global biodiversity but also to local ecosystems and communities. Criminal networks involved in trafficking are often linked to other illegal activities, including armed violence and corruption.
Thailand remains a hotspot for wildlife trafficking. In a similar case last year, authorities intercepted dozens of lemurs and over 900 tortoises that had been smuggled from Madagascar through Indonesia. Those animals were later returned to Madagascar.
