Wildlife bust in Türkiye: Customs officials seize 12 Nile crocodiles, 5 monitor lizards

Turkish customs officials seized Nile crocodiles and monitored lizards smuggled from Egypt into Türkiye.

Customs officers at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport discovered the animals in the luggage of an Egyptian passenger, identified as F.H., during a routine inspection.

What happened:

Officers found 17 Nile crocodiles and 10 Nile monitor lizards in F.H.’s suitcase.

• 12 crocodiles and five lizards were alive
• The remaining animals had died during transport

The Nile crocodiles and monitor lizards are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates the trade of endangered wildlife to safeguard biodiversity.

Turkish Ministry of Agriculture secures living Nile crocodiles, monitor lizards

After the seizure, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks (DKMP) took the live reptiles into protective care.

Officials noted that the animals were bound for Hatay, near Türkiye’s southern border with Syria, without the necessary documentation for legal import. DKMP ensured that the animals received proper care, taking action to prevent further harm and uphold international wildlife conservation standards.

Türkiye strengthens border controls to combat illegal wildlife trafficking

Customs and wildlife authorities are actively investigating the incident to prevent similar trafficking cases in the future. Türkiye’s efforts to enforce CITES regulations and combat illegal wildlife trafficking reinforce its dedication to protecting endangered species from exploitation.

The October 28, 2024, seizure of 12 Nile crocodiles and five monitor lizards follows a similar incident two months earlier at the Pazarkule border crossing. In August, Turkish officials intercepted a Greek-registered vehicle attempting to smuggle exotic animals, including kangaroos, alpacas and parrots.

Customs officers had found the animals hidden in the vehicle’s trunk, which reflects the steady increase in exotic animal trafficking at Türkiye’s borders.