The Wild Crime Report for Monday 7 April 2025
Scales in Nigeria, arrests in India and tigers in Nevada.
Welcome to the Wild Crime Report for Monday 7 April 2025.
Let’s get into some information.
Nigeria makes another massive pangolin scale bust
Following on from previous reports on law enforcement action in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service has struck again by seizing over 3 tons of pangolin scales in the city of Lagos. Nigeria Customs reported of 2 major operations last week that were conducted by the authority working with an NGO, the Wildlife Justice Commission, that saw 3,765 kilograms of pangolin scales seized and five suspects arrested. Notably, the report nominated the operation following on from the arrest of a Chinese national in February 2025, suggesting that these raids are part of ongoing investigations to dismantle these trafficking networks.
The continued seizure of large volume stockpiles of pangolin scales suggests that the trade remains viable for wildlife criminals and that Nigeria and West Africa broadly is still a hotspot region for this illegal trade. This is despite studies that have identified that the trade in the main market of China is decreasing.
Wildlife trafficking gang convicted in India
In India last week, a court in West Bengal convicted four wildlife smugglers in relation to a case opened in 2024. Their alleged kingpin, Rikoch Narjari was found guilty of offences related to the illegal sale of protected wildlife. Alongside Narjari, his three other co-accused, Braun Ray, Ranjit Rat and Paresh Ray were also found guilty.
Narjari is from Assam which is notorious for both poaching in Kaziringa National Park but also its position as a smuggling route for wildlife coming from and going to neighboring countries Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal. He was branded a “most wanted” fugitive for his role in numerous poaching incidents over a 10 year period, before being caught by authorities less than a year ago.
Exotic wildlife seized between India and Myanmar
And unfortunately, a clear demonstration of this smuggling route was made last week when Indian wildlife authorities in Assam region intercepted 31 exotic animals in Mizoram Champhai district. The Forestry department conducted an operation and arrested three Myanmar nationals and found them in possession of 27 African spurred tortoises, three Patagonian Maras and one albino python.
While it’s obvious that the cargo was smuggled from Myanmar by the trio, there is no further information to suggest the origin of their animals; be it from another source country like Thailand or Vietnam, where many such land shipments along this route originate. Of particular significance will be the Patagonia Maras which are endemic to Argentina. It’s either a local breeding operation in South East Asia or one hell of a journey half way around the world.
Tigers seized in Nevada alleged to originate from notorious facility
News outlets were presumably only to happy to name drop Joe Exotic last week, the flamboyant tiger owner now con showcased in Netflix’ documentary series The Tiger King. He was named after police in Nye County, Nevada raided a premises and seized seven tigers. Nevada man, Karl Mitchell, was arrested after police searched he’d his premises and found an unlawful firearm. Despite reports that Mitchell had animal permit from 2019 he was restricted from exhibiting the big cats and is reported to have refused inspections which resulted in previous violations and penalties.
Information indicated that Mitchell was claiming that six out of the seven tigers now in the custody at an undisclosed sanctuary, actually came from the infamous Oklahoma animal park run by Joe Exotic. However, this has been denied by Exotic (real name Joseph Allen Maldonado) communicating from behind bars.
Name dropping aside, it really just highlights the ongoing issues and challenges the US faces around clearing up the troublesome and complex trade in exotic big cat ownership by individuals. Mitchell opined that the tigers were his emotional support animals.
Try getting a dog mate.
Stay wild.