A woman accused of being one of the world's most wanted traffickers of tiger body parts has been arrested in India, officials have said.
Yangchen Lachungpa, who was detained earlier this week, is accused of playing a critical role in building trafficking corridors leading out of the country to smuggle tiger parts.
Lachungpa had been on Interpol's most-wanted list, and her bail plea was rejected during a court appearance on Thursday.
Wildlife officials stated that Ms. Yangchen's arrest was a major breakthrough in the battle against poaching in India.
It is rare for a woman to be arrested in connection with the illegal trade of animal body parts.
Police had been looking for Lachungpa for several years. She was arrested following a coordinated operation between the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, the environment ministry reported.
The ministry added that Lachungpa was a key member of an organized trafficking network that has links to Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, as well as operations in several Indian cities, including Delhi.
Lachungpa had been arrested in 2017 but disappeared after being granted bail.
Another man accused at the time, Jai Tamang, who was arrested in 2015, told police that he had given Lachungpa wildlife contraband in exchange for shelter.
Tiger parts are in demand in China where they have been used in traditional medicine.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare reported 26 documented cases of tiger poaching in 2024, and 56 cases the preceding year. However, they note that the actual number of poached tigers is likely higher, as many are found dead with no evidence of poaching.
