New technologies are stepping up the global fight against wildlife trafficking

In late 2025, Interpol led a global operation involving 134 nations, seizing about 30,000 live animals and identifying 1,100 suspected wildlife traffickers, underscoring the substantial threat and scale of wildlife trafficking.
Wildlife trafficking generates between US$7 billion and $23 billion annually, making it one of the most lucrative illegal industries globally.
To counter this, new digital tools and technologies are employed for better enforcement, such as advanced X-ray screeners for luggage, AI to assist in identification of species, portable DNA testing kits, and handheld timber identification scanners.
These innovations address both on-ground enforcement challenges and early detection of suspicious online trade listings using AI and content monitoring tools.
Effective enforcement also leverages background research and risk profiling, allowing agencies to navigate complex wildlife trade laws and better predict illegal trades by analyzing shipping documents.
Despite these advancements, technology aids, but does not replace, human expertise in identifying and prosecuting wildlife trafficking cases.