20 Customs administrations, from sub-Sharan Africa¹ and from South Asia² supported by the INAMA Global and INAMA India & South Asia projects³ and the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC)⁴, have joined forces as part of the third edition of the Operation PRAESIDIO series, which aims to combat wildlife trafficking.

In preparation for the operation, workshops were organized to enhance participants' capacities in operational planning, communication protocols, risk assessment, and reporting. Risk indicators for illegal wildlife trade (IWT), particularly related to sensitive routes and modus operandi, were developed, as well as standardized reporting templates to facilitate smooth coordination and effective information sharing throughout the operation.

During the operational phase, which ran from 19 August to 20 September 2024, participating Customs administrations worked closely with the Operational Coordination Unit (OCU) established at the WCO headquarters to enhance the operation's on-ground effectiveness. Comprising representatives from India, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, the OCU coordinated real-time data analysis, facilitated information sharing, and addressed operational challenges.

224 seizures were reported during the operation, including 130 tons of timber, 30 tons of elephant meat, 63 kg of pangolin scales, 1.5 tons of shark fins, and 8,000 pieces of various specimens. The operation also provided valuable insights into IWT patterns and the most commonly trafficked commodities. The seizures of live pangolins and scales of pangolins highlighted the continued threat to the world’s most trafficked mammal. The majority of elephant seizures involved tusks, whereas big cats were intercepted in different forms, such as skins, live animals, and meat. Other seizures included small crocodiles and marine species, with 53 seizures involving corals, sea cucumbers, and shark fins.