Key Wildlife Trafficker Arrested After Years on the Run: INTERPOL Red Notice Fugitive Captured in Sikkim

Agencies With inputs from PTI, December 6, 2025 : In a significant triumph for wildlife protection and international law enforcement collaboration, Yangchen Lachungpa, a fugitive involved in one of Asia’s most notorious wildlife trafficking networks, was arrested on December 2, 2025, in Lachung, North Sikkim. The operation, led by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (MP STSF) in conjunction with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), marks a critical milestone in the battle against illegal wildlife trade. Lachungpa had been on the run for years and was finally apprehended due to her inclusion on an INTERPOL Red Notice, which was issued just two months earlier.

Lachungpa, 44, a resident of Lachung in North Sikkim, has long been identified as a key player in a vast international wildlife trafficking syndicate. The criminal network, spanning India, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and other countries, is responsible for smuggling tiger body parts, pangolin scales, and other highly sought-after wildlife contraband. The arrest was made possible after a meticulous operation involving intelligence gathering and coordinated ground action by law enforcement agencies from various states.

The operation received full cooperation from the Sikkim Police, the Forest Department, the judiciary, and the district administration, with additional support from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to ensure secure transit. The heightened public sentiment in the region necessitated these measures to ensure the smooth and discreet transport of the fugitive. Following her arrest, Lachungpa was promptly taken to Gangtok for a mandatory medical examination. She was subsequently produced before a competent court on December 3, where her bail plea was rejected. A transit remand to Madhya Pradesh was granted, and further legal proceedings are now set to take place in Narmadapuram, where the original case was filed.

The case against Lachungpa traces back to July 13, 2015, when the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department registered a case involving poaching and the illegal trade of tiger body parts and pangolin scales in the Kamti Range of the Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hoshangabad (now Narmadapuram). Authorities seized various contraband, including four pieces of tiger bones, 1.5 kg of pangolin scales, tiger skin, and tiger bone oil extract. The investigation revealed the involvement of other key figures, including Jai Tamang, who was arrested in October 2015. Tamang’s confession exposed Lachungpa’s pivotal role in the trafficking chain, stating that he supplied wildlife contraband to her in exchange for shelter.

Despite the convictions of 27 individuals involved in the case by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Narmadapuram on December 20, 2022, Lachungpa had managed to evade capture for several years. The MP STSF had briefly apprehended her in 2017, but she violated her bail conditions and fled, leading to an arrest warrant being issued against her on July 29, 2019. Her continued evasion prompted the WCCB to request an INTERPOL Red Notice, which was eventually granted on October 2, 2025, designating her as a “fugitive wanted for prosecution.” This was a key factor in her eventual capture.

The ministry emphasized that Lachungpa is believed to be a crucial relay point in the trafficking of tiger parts, and further investigation is expected to uncover the broader scope of the criminal network. Officials anticipate that her interrogation will provide vital information about the backward and forward linkages in the wildlife trafficking chain, which could lead to more arrests and dismantling of the network.

As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities are reviewing evidence, including encrypted communications and a coded diary found during the arrest. This critical information is expected to shed light on the financial backers, poaching syndicates, and international buyers involved in the illicit trade.

The arrest of Yangchen Lachungpa is hailed as one of the most significant milestones in India’s efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, with international implications for the fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

Lachungpa is considered a major figure in the transnational wildlife trafficking network, with authorities linking her to smuggling routes running across multiple borders. Investigators believe she served as a crucial relay point in the trade of tiger parts and other wildlife contraband. The WCCB's involvement, acting as India’s INTERPOL Liaison Office, played a central role in securing her Red Notice and orchestrating the operation that led to her arrest.

Lachungpa’s case is part of a broader effort to combat wildlife trafficking, which remains a major concern globally. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), there were 26 documented cases of tiger poaching in 2024, with many more likely going unreported. Wildlife trafficking, particularly the trade in tiger parts, continues to contribute to the decline of endangered species and fuels transnational organised crime.