Overview
- Border Force recorded 250 wildlife trade seizures between September 13 and October 15 during Operation Thunder, a 15% increase on last year and reportedly up 73% over two years.
- Hauls included about 2,000 live tarantulas valued at roughly £70,000, two rainbow boa constrictors at Dover, and more than 100 birds packed into a car, some found dead in filthy conditions.
- Ministers condemned wildlife smuggling as serious organised crime and said offenders bringing illegal animals or products by air, sea or post will be searched and prosecuted.
- The UK action formed part of Operation Thunder, described as led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization and focused on airports, ports and mail depots.
- Researchers warn many tarantulas sold to hobbyists are taken from the wild and that the trade is under‑regulated, while environmental groups report very low UK conviction rates for wildlife crime.