Asia-Pacific unites against wildlife trafficking

(Chengdu, China – 12 June 2026) – Customs and law enforcement agencies from across the Asia-Pacific region have reaffirmed their joint commitment to dismantle transnational wildlife trafficking networks.

The agencies gathered this week in Chengdu for the mid-term review and consultation of Operation Mekong Dragon (OMD) VIII. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), alongside TRAFFIC and WWF, continues to support the General Administration of Customs of China’s anti-smuggling bureau in convening the high-level meeting.

Held in June 2026, the meeting marked a key milestone in the eighth phase of one of the region’s most successful joint enforcement initiative against illegal wildlife and drugs trafficking, launched in 2018 by China and Vietnam Customs.

Over 60 representatives from more than 20 countries and regions—including Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and more—and international organizations, attended the meeting. The event was co-hosted by the World Customs Organization Regional Intelligence Liaison Office-Asia/Pacific (WCO RILO-AP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), GACC, and Vietnam Customs.

“Multilateral cooperation is no longer an option but a necessity,” said Lionel Hachemin, IFAW Wildlife Crime Program Director, “Operation Mekong Dragon exemplifies how shared intelligence and coordinated action can dismantle transnational crime networks that no single country can tackle alone.”

A representative from China Customs stated, “China has always placed a high priority on international law enforcement cooperation. Against the backdrop of profound global changes, transnational smuggling activities have become increasingly concealed and diversified, with criminal tactics continuously evolving and upgrading. China Customs calls on source, transit, processing, and destination countries and regions to uphold the principle of shared responsibility and collective governance. All parties should consolidate law enforcement synergy, deepen cross-border intelligence sharing, and strengthen coordinated law enforcement cooperation, so as to jointly safeguard public security and ecological stability in the Asia-Pacific region.”

Representatives exchanged views on recent law enforcement actions, typical cases in their countries, and analyzed the effectiveness of OMD in previous years. Since the beginning of OMD in 2018, a total of more than 6626 seizures have been made, including more than 630 tons of endangered species and products.

While Operation Mekong Dragon has delivered tangible results, delegates agreed that the expanding scale and emerging challenges of wildlife crime demands ever-closer regional cooperation. OMD VIII represents not only a joint enforcement operation but also a shared vision for a safer, more resilient Asia-Pacific. The OMD VIII will run from April to September this year.

ENDS

Picture editors: High resolution professional images available on request.

Press Contacts: 

China
Sabrina Zhang
Senior Communications Manager
m: +86 13911116927
e: qzhang@ifaw.org