Doha, February 05 (QNA) - The international post-operation meeting for Thunder 2025 concluded today.

The meeting was hosted by the General Authority of Customs in cooperation with specialized international organizations and entities, with the aim of combating crimes related to the illegal trafficking of flora and wildlife.

The four-day meeting was attended by more than 100 participants representing customs, police, and wildlife protection agencies from 41 countries.

The meeting served as an important platform to assess the overall outcomes of Operation Thunder 2025, exchange perspectives on shared challenges, review best practices, and explore prospects for future cooperation.

It also featured bilateral meetings and accompanying specialized sessions, reflecting the participants’ commitment to transforming the results of field operations into practical knowledge that can be further developed and built upon.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change participated in the international post-operation Thunder 2025 meeting through its Wildlife Development Department.

On the sidelines of the meetings, the Wildlife Development Department, in cooperation with the General Authority of Customs, held a coordination meeting with several African and Asian countries to exchange experiences and expertise and to strengthen cooperation in combating the smuggling of ivory and rhinoceros horns, as part of the implementation of the national plan to combat the ivory trade.

Operation Thunder 2025 is considered one of the largest global operations dedicated to wildlife protection. It is organized by the Environmental Security Programme of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in close cooperation with the World Customs Organization.

It is worth noting that illegal wildlife trafficking is no longer viewed solely as an environmental crime, but has become part of a transnational organized crime network linked to money laundering and terrorism financing. This makes it a direct threat to global security and stability and necessitates effective legislation, advanced monitoring tools, and close international cooperation.