Operation Jungle Trade

Operation Jungle Trade was a three-year undercover operation, which involved more than forty investigations, domestic and foreign, and resulted in the seizure of more than 660 endangered and protected birds and animals and the arrest and/or indictment of forty individuals who were major distributers and traffickers of exotic wildlife in the United States.

Operation Jungle Trade was worldwide in scope and uncovered the elaborate smuggling network which operated across the U.S./ Mexico border and sold the smuggled animals and birds in nine states as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and ten other countries including: Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, Ghana, Egypt, Panama, Honduras, Belize, and Costa Rica.

The operation involved 42 Customs and Fish and Wildlife offices in the U.S., Customs Foreign Attache offices, and several foreign law enforcement agencies including the Australian Federal Police and Customs Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the New Zealand Customs Service and the Panamanian National Police.

In the News U.S. Customs Service Press Release. "U.S. Customs Service on Animal Smuggling Arrests." 1 June, 1998. (PDF)
U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Joint Press Release. "'Operation Jungle Trade' described by Customs Resident Agent & U.S. Attorney Press Conference - Special Agent in Charge, Leonard Lindheim." 29 May, 1998. (PDF)
U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Joint Press Release. "Customs and Fish and Wildlife Agents Snare Huge Animal Smuggling Ring." 29 May, 1998. (PDF)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sevice News Release. "Federal Agents Target Illegal Bird Trade." 29 May, 1998. (PDF)

 

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