Ha Noi, Viet Nam – Operation Mekong Dragon (OMD), a joint Customs-led operation in Asia-Pacific supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific of the World Customs Organization (RILO AP), has achieved considerable success with major seizures of illegally-traded wildlife and illicit drugs recorded within its five-month operational period.
During the operation, authorities from 23 law enforcement agencies remained on high alert for shipments of drugs, precursor chemicals and CITES-listed species: the focus was on heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, pangolins (and their scales), turtles, tortoises, rhino horn, and ivory.
From April to September 2023, authorities in the region intercepted a total of 1,715 cases of CITES-listed species and illicit drugs and precursors, comprising 216 CITES related seizures and 1,499 illicit drugs related seizures. This shows a 26% increase in the overall number of seizures compared to 2022 figures.
Notably, the 216 CITES related seizures in 2023 are the highest number of confiscations since the OMD series began. The surge almost equals the combined total of 223 CITES related seizures from the three preceding years. The steep increase in these CITES listed species confiscations in 2023 suggests an alarming trend, potentially signaling a resurgence of trafficking following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. "More and more, we are seeing a trend where illicit activities are gaining momentum post-COVID-19," notes Mr. TAO Zhiqiang, Program Officer at the UNODC Environment Team in Asia-Pacific.
Furthermore, thanks to the coordinated enforcement work, Hong Kong Customs seized almost 12 tons of shark parts and products, and Viet Nam Customs seized one ton of rosewood and 490 kilograms of ivory. In addition, India Customs seized 26 kilograms of pangolin products, Bangladesh Customs seized over 100 turtles, while Australia filed over 90 cases related to wildlife trafficking.
Twenty-three customs authorities in Asia-Pacific participated in Operation Mekong Dragon V from April to September 2023
Ms. Jenna Dawson-Faber, Asia-Pacific’s Regional Coordinator for the UNODC Environment Team, emphasized the tangible impact of these seizures, stating that "these confiscations represent not just numbers in a report but tons of protected species. If not intercepted, these could pose immediate health and security risks to countless communities, while lining the pockets of organized criminal groups orchestrating these transnational crimes."
Amid the concerning rise in trafficking, the record-breaking number of seizures also reflects the growing proficiency of customs authorities in the region, especially those involved since OMD I.
Mr. Jirawat Noiklang from Thai Customs Department, affirms this progress, stating that “enhanced by operation’s debriefing and exchange sessions, we have swiftly gained insights from various members, improving our ability to intercept illicit drugs. This has also enhanced our international coordination, amplifying our response to cross-border drug trafficking challenges.”
During the Operations’ debriefing meeting, Dr. Krunal Rathod from India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence shared that “OMD V has been an enriching, inspiring, and informative operation. It was valuable to unveil the smuggling techniques and modus operandi employed by traffickers, learn about the best practices and methods used by other customs agencies, and explore ways to mitigate this transnational issue.”
“The seizures are merely the first step – a step we need to build on to actually go beyond disrupting the trafficking, to actually dismantle the criminal networks behind these intricate schemes, through conducting effective post-seizure investigations,” Ms. Dawson-Faber said.
Considered as one of the most important and successful international law enforcement joint operations against wildlife and drugs trafficking in the Asia-Pacific region, OMD was initiated in 2018 by the customs administrations of China and Viet Nam. It is now in its fifth year of implementation, and Members of the Operation are considering options for a next phase.
Learn more about the work of UNODC’s Environment Team.
