Traffic Southeast Asia

Traffic Southeast Asia Monitoring wildlife trade. Fighting wildlife crime. A non-governmental organisation working in all 10 Southeast Asian countries, monitoring the wildlife trade.

Wildlife crime doesn't stop with poachers. Transporters, couriers and middlemen all play a role in moving illegal wildli...
14/08/2026

Wildlife crime doesn't stop with poachers. Transporters, couriers and middlemen all play a role in moving illegal wildlife products through trafficking networks. In Cao Bằng, Viet Nam, authorities detained a man after he was allegedly caught on 28 July 2026 transporting 3.64 kg of rhino horn for payment.

accused of poaching the rhino horn, but of moving it for payment. The case is a reminder that traffickers depend on a chain of transporters and middlemen to keep illegal wildlife products moving, making every link in the network accountable. https://tinyurl.com/3hvrt8jx

From traditional medicine to luxury collectibles, demand continues to drive the illegal rhino horn trade.

A Bali antique dealer is facing a potential one-year prison sentence and a fine for allegedly trading Asian elephant ivo...
13/08/2026

A Bali antique dealer is facing a potential one-year prison sentence and a fine for allegedly trading Asian elephant ivory. The case was uncovered through cyber patrols after enforcement authorities detected elephant ivory products being advertised on Facebook, leading to an investigation in Tampaksiring, Gianyar, Indonesia, in April 2026.
https://tinyurl.com/2rk53akf

Authorities seized five ivory pieces, including both raw tusks and carved products. In August 2026, prosecutors sought a one-year prison term and a fine against the suspect, while a second suspect in the case remains under investigation.

A New South Wales woman has been convicted and fined AUD 5,000 for attempting to illegally export more than 50 fertilise...
13/08/2026

A New South Wales woman has been convicted and fined AUD 5,000 for attempting to illegally export more than 50 fertilised emu eggs from Australia to Vietnam. Under Australian law, the illegal export of native wildlife can carry penalties of up to 10 years' imprisonment and fines of up to AUD 364,000.

The eggs were to be carried by three individuals on commercial flights from Sydney to Vietnam without the required permits. The eggs were intercepted before leaving the country and were later destroyed. https://tinyurl.com/mr2nvvpt

Did you know? Emus are Australia's largest native bird and an important part of the country's natural heritage. International trade in native wildlife and wildlife products is regulated to help safeguard species and ecosystems.

Nearly two years after the wildlife trafficking took place, five individuals in South Korea have now been indicted follo...
12/08/2026

Nearly two years after the wildlife trafficking took place, five individuals in South Korea have now been indicted following an investigation that uncovered an alleged cross-border trafficking network involving animals sourced from Southeast Asia. The case highlights how wildlife crime investigations can take time, but also how authorities continue working to hold offenders accountable and bring cases before the courts.

According to prosecutors, around 200 wild animals were allegedly brought into South Korea from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, with 95 animals confiscated, including approximately 40 CITES-listed species such as Yangtze alligators, cobras and black marsh turtles. Authorities say many were hidden in luggage, metal tins and plastic containers, while some animals reportedly died from transport-related stress. https://tinyurl.com/mp8e8j4n

The animals were reportedly sold through online reptile communities to private keepers and collectors, highlighting the continued demand for rare and unusual reptiles in the exotic pet trade.

More than 5,069 kg of shark fins believed to have been imported from Guyana, South America, for the Malaysian market wer...
12/08/2026

More than 5,069 kg of shark fins believed to have been imported from Guyana, South America, for the Malaysian market were discovered in a shipping container at Port Klang. Reported on 27 July 2026, the shipment was allegedly declared as fish skin, with investigations indicating it may have been improperly declared to avoid inspection by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (MAQIS). A shipping agent representative was detained to assist investigations. https://tinyurl.com/5dj2vbhj

According to the report, shark fin imports are also subject to Department of Fisheries Malaysia checks and CITES-related requirements. Demand for shark fins in food products and traditional medicine continues to contribute to pressure on shark species globally.
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Lebih 5,069 kg sirip ikan yu yang dipercayai dibawa masuk dari Guyana, Amerika Selatan, untuk pasaran Malaysia ditemukan dalam sebuah kontena di Pelabuhan Klang. Kes yang dilaporkan pada 27 Julai 2026 itu melibatkan penghantaran yang didakwa diikrarkan sebagai kulit ikan, dengan siasatan menunjukkan ia mungkin diisytiharkan secara tidak tepat bagi mengelakkan pemeriksaan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Kuarantin dan Pemeriksaan Malaysia (MAQIS). Seorang wakil ejen perkapalan turut ditahan bagi membantu siasatan. https://tinyurl.com/5dj2vbhj

Menurut laporan tersebut, import sirip ikan yu turut tertakluk kepada pemeriksaan Jabatan Perikanan Malaysia serta keperluan berkaitan CITES. Permintaan terhadap sirip ikan yu bagi produk makanan dan perubatan tradisional terus menyumbang kepada tekanan terhadap spesies ikan yu di peringkat global.

A raft of 18 teak logs intercepted on the Salween River may not seem significant at first glance, but it highlights the ...
11/08/2026

A raft of 18 teak logs intercepted on the Salween River may not seem significant at first glance, but it highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting natural resources along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Forest crime and wildlife crime are often interconnected threats to biodiversity.

The interception was made during a routine border security patrol aimed at curbing illegal logging and the exploitation of natural resources along the Thailand-Myanmar boundary. Incidents like this demonstrate the importance of continued monitoring and enforcement in remote border areas. https://tinyurl.com/yxfk5r7a

Teak is a highly valued timber known for its strength, durability, and use in furniture, construction, and boatbuilding. Its high commercial value can make it a target for illegal harvesting and trade, underscoring the importance of efforts to monitor and protect these natural resources.

Authorities in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, uncovered 30 sacks containing 551.365kg of pangolin scales and 42....
11/08/2026

Authorities in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, uncovered 30 sacks containing 551.365kg of pangolin scales and 42.015kg of pangolin claws during an investigation into suspected wildlife trafficking. https://tinyurl.com/3dnhsp2f

The discovery in a locked rear room led to the arrest of two suspects, with investigators reporting that the wildlife parts had been sourced from Sintang and Kapuas Hulu. The case highlights how protected species continue to be targeted by illegal trade networks.

Behind every seized tiger bone, rhino horn or pangolin scale may lie a much larger criminal network.A year-long undercov...
10/08/2026

Behind every seized tiger bone, rhino horn or pangolin scale may lie a much larger criminal network.

A year-long undercover investigation by Earth League International (ELI) has revealed how wildlife trafficking in Cambodia extends far beyond the illegal trade in endangered species. Investigators identified five alleged trafficking kingpins and uncovered links between wildlife crime, scam compounds, money laundering, human trafficking and other organized criminal activities. https://tinyurl.com/2jekh5pt

The investigation found traffickers in Cambodia trading products from tigers, rhinos, elephants and pangolins. The report also highlights how wildlife crime is increasingly intertwined with organized crime, corruption and cross-border trafficking networks across the region.

Full report: https://tinyurl.com/2mnstnv3

Indonesian authorities have seized 110kg of deer meat believed to have originated from a wild source, after it was trans...
10/08/2026

Indonesian authorities have seized 110kg of deer meat believed to have originated from a wild source, after it was transported by sea from West Papua to Maluku. The shipment was intercepted on 2 August 2026 during a routine inspection when officials discovered it lacked the required wildlife transport and quarantine permits.

Authorities said the shipment was linked to three individuals, who were detained for questioning and issued administrative penalties. The meat was confiscated and later destroyed by authorities. The seizure highlights ongoing concerns over the movement of wildlife products through Indonesia's inter-island shipping routes. https://tinyurl.com/ycycb64s

Female sea turtles often return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, sometimes travelling thous...
07/08/2026

Female sea turtles often return to the same beaches where they were born to lay their eggs, sometimes travelling thousands of kilometres to get there.

A green turtle was found dead on a nesting beach in Berau, Indonesia, with a deep cut running along the underside of its body, leaving its internal organs exposed. Reports suggest the turtle may have been killed for the eggs it was carrying. https://tinyurl.com/4rr2u2rj

It had likely made the journey to shore to nest, something female sea turtles do only a limited number of times throughout their lives. Instead, the nesting attempt never happened, and both the mother and the future hatchlings she carried were lost.

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