The following is excerpted from a 22 November 2012 press release by the World Customs Organization.
A global Customs operation spanning three continents led to over 70 major seizures of endangered flora and fauna and their derivatives, such as live tortoises, rhino horns, ivory tusks, a leopard skin, dead seahorses and pangolin scales, trade in which is prohibited or regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO), Operation HOPE targeted air and maritime consignments, as well as passengers, from 22-31 October 2012 to identify illicit shipments of endangered wildlife and other species with the support of the CITES Secretariat, INTERPOL, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force and, in some countries, national CITES management authorities, wildlife enforcement agencies and the police.
This release is available in its entirety at:
http://www.wcoomd.org/press/?v=1&lid=1&cid=14&id=331