Two wildlife traffickers have been convicted and sentenced in Madagascar following the seizure of 167 endangered radiated tortoises in Toliara, in an operation supported by the Wildlife Justice Commission.
On 3 March 2026, officials from Madagascar’s Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD) arrested three men accused of involvement in an illegal tortoise-trafficking operation. The arrests followed a Wildlife Justice investigation into criminal networks trafficking protected tortoises from Madagascar to Asia.
Madagascar’s Anti-Corruption Court convicted two of the accused, including a high-level wildlife trafficker who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 100 million Malagasy ariary (approximately USD 22,700). A second trafficker was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 100 million Malagasy ariary.
“The Wildlife Justice Commission is proud to support our law enforcement partners with the information and evidence they need to secure convictions, remove key traffickers from the business, and disrupt the networks behind the trade,” said Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of Wildlife Justice. “These convictions demonstrate what can be achieved when actionable intelligence is provided to law enforcement, enabling them to arrest and prosecute the people driving wildlife trafficking.”
“The seizure of 167 radiated tortoises saved these animals from entering the illegal trade, while the imprisonment of two traffickers delivers a significant financial and operational blow to the network. Our goal is not simply to stop individual shipments, but to create lasting disruption that makes wildlife trafficking riskier and less profitable, so it is no longer a viable enterprise.
We commend Madagascar’s authorities for pursuing this case through to conviction and look forward to continuing to support efforts to disrupt the networks threatening Madagascar’s unique wildlife,” she added.
Radiated tortoises are classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Illegal collection for the exotic pet trade remains one of the primary drivers of population decline. The species has also been listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) since July 1975, the highest level of international protection, reflecting the longstanding and serious threats to its survival.
The outcome of this case reinforces the importance of sustained cooperation between Madagascar and international partners to investigate and disrupt the criminal networks threatening the species.
The Wildlife Justice Commission will continue to support law enforcement partners in Madagascar with intelligence and operational support to investigate and disrupt wildlife trafficking networks.
