Authorities in Madagascar have arrested 19 people in connection with illegal tortoise trafficking, marking a significant step in the country’s fight against wildlife crime. The arrests, carried out in the week of January 20, stemmed from a December 2024 operation in which a Tanzanian national was caught transporting 800 tortoises in Mahajanga.
Among those detained in the capital, Antananarivo, are 13 men—including the Tanzanian suspect, Joseph Yonas Linonoka—and six women, according to Madagascar’s Ministry for the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD). Additionally, four Chinese nationals linked to the trafficking network were arrested in Tanzania.
The crackdown follows multiple seizures, including the interception of 105 baby radiated tortoises at Antananarivo airport on January 14. Three Chinese citizens en route to Shanghai were found smuggling the critically endangered species. Authorities also confiscated 134 tortoises from three other foreign nationals that same day.
With political figures and organized networks allegedly involved, environmental groups like the Voahary Gasy Alliance are urging stricter law enforcement. However, ongoing anti-trafficking efforts may face challenges after the U.S. abruptly halted a $10 million funding program in January 2025, raising concerns about future conservation initiatives.
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