DSI Moves Forward to Follow Up on Evidence in Transnational Wildlife Trafficking Case in the Republic of Madagascar, Elevating International Justice Cooperation

Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, and Police Captain Wisanu Chimtragool, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation, assigned a delegation from the Department of Special Investigation, led by Police Captain Thinavudth Silapat, Director of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime; Mr. Amnuaychai Kositpanichyakul, Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs; Mr. Komkanit Phonghirun, Director of Transnational Crime Division 1; and delegates of the Department of Special Investigation, along with Mr. Theerach Limpayaraya, Provincial Chief Public Prosecutor Attached to the Office of the Attorney General, to travel for official duties to the Republic of Madagascar between July 4 - 12, 2026.

The purpose of the trip was to gather additional evidence and follow up on the progress of operations according to the request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in Special Case No. 106/2567, as well as to strengthen law enforcement cooperation between Thailand and the Republic of Madagascar in prosecuting transnational wildlife trafficking networks under the framework of international criminal cooperation.

Following the arrest and prosecution of a group of suspects who were part of a syndicate smuggling controlled wildlife from the Republic of Madagascar into Thailand, authorities seized 877 Spider Tortoises, 184 Radiated Tortoises, 16 Ring-tailed Lemurs, and 32 Brown Lemurs. The investigation revealed that this case is connected to a transnational organized crime network. Therefore, this investigation and trip aimed to follow up on the progress of the mutual legal assistance request, track the evidence currently being gathered by agencies in the Republic of Madagascar, exchange investigative information, and discuss guidelines for law enforcement cooperation to efficiently support the prosecution of transnational wildlife trafficking networks.

Throughout the mission, the Thai delegation met and held discussions with relevant agencies of the Republic of Madagascar, namely the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Customs Department, the Anti-Corruption Court, the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They also conducted a field visit to the city of Toliara to hear information from field officers and experts, which is beneficial for gathering, analyzing, and linking evidence in the case, as well as for enhancing cooperation in the justice process and law enforcement between Thailand and the Republic of Madagascar.

This official mission allowed the Department of Special Investigation to obtain additional information and evidence from agencies in the Republic of Madagascar, which is highly beneficial to the investigation and for expanding the scope to apprehend other involved accomplices. Furthermore, the agencies of the Republic of Madagascar expressed a desire to develop and elevate cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Thailand and the Department of Special Investigation through the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Republic of Madagascar and the Thai authorities. This is to strengthen cooperation between the justice agencies of both countries and to increase efficiency in the prevention and suppression of transnational wildlife trafficking in a sustainable and effective manner going forward.