Four Ministers Lead Government Response to Major Wildlife Crime Case under Prime Ministers Decision No. 11/PM

Vientiane, 25 August 2026 — The Government of Lao PDR has reaffirmed its high-level commitment to combating organized and transnational wildlife crime, with the Ministers of four key ministries directly overseeing follow-up to a major case involving nearly 1.8 tonnes of suspected elephant ivory, two suspected black panther carcasses and other prohibited wildlife specimens. Eleven foreign nationals have been detained in connection with the case.

The high-level response forms part of the implementation of Prime Ministers Decision No. 11/PM, dated 24 February 2026, on the Appointment of the National Taskforce for the Prevention, Suppression, and Combating of Transnational Wildlife Crime, which establishes a national-level mechanism to strengthen leadership, inter-agency coordination, investigation and enforcement against serious wildlife crime, with particular emphasis on dismantling organized transnational criminal networks.

On 25 August 2026, Lieutenant General Vanthong Kongmany, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and Minister of Public Security, together with the Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Minister of Health, jointly inspected the seized evidence and received a briefing on the progress of the investigation.

The direct involvement of the four Ministers demonstrates the determination of the Government to ensure that major wildlife crime cases go beyond the seizure of illegal wildlife products and lead to comprehensive investigations aimed at identifying offenders, tracing the origin and intended destination of specimens, identifying financial and logistical links, and ultimately disrupting and dismantling the criminal networks behind illegal wildlife trade.

The ministerial delegation was welcomed by Lieutenant General Kongsavath Bounliang, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Head of the General Police Department, together with senior officials responsible for the investigation.

Colonel Khaophone Phommajan, Head of the Environmental Police Department, and Lieutenant Colonel Thavone Keophila, Deputy Head of the Environmental Police Department under the General Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, reported that the enforcement operation was conducted at approximately 13:15 on 16 August 2026.

Officers of the Environmental Police Department, in coordination with the Bolikhamxay Provincial Public Security Command and Pak Kading District Public Security authorities, conducted an operation at Nonsavanh Resort in Phonchaleun Village, Phon Ngam area, Pak Kading District, Bolikhamxay Province, following information concerning suspected illegal possession and trade of prohibited wildlife carcasses and parts.

During the operation, authorities detained 11 foreign nationals, including one woman, and seized a substantial quantity of suspected prohibited wildlife specimens. The evidence included approximately 1,755.6 kilograms of material suspected to be elephant ivory, two carcasses suspected to be black panthers weighing approximately 45.5 kilograms in total, numerous other wildlife specimens and products, and two vehicles believed to be associated with the case.

The reported conduct may constitute serious violations of the legislation of Lao PDR governing aquatic and wildlife resources. Article 52 prohibits individuals and organizations, including foreign persons and entities operating in Lao PDR, from illegally removing, possessing, hunting, trading or otherwise dealing in prohibited aquatic and wildlife species, including live specimens, carcasses, parts and organs, without authorization.

The case may also fall within the scope of Articles 334 and 335 of the Penal Code. Article 334 provides criminal penalties for unlawful acquisition, possession or trade of prohibited aquatic and wildlife species, carcasses, parts or organs, while Article 335 addresses unlawful import, export, re-export, transit or movement of aquatic and wildlife specimens, parts, organs and products contrary to applicable laws, regulations and international obligations concerning trade in endangered species.

Consistent with Prime Ministers Decision No. 11/PM, the investigation will focus not only on the detained individuals and seized specimens but also on the wider criminal structure behind the case. Investigators will seek to establish the origin and ownership of the specimens, trafficking routes, intended destinations, financial transactions, associated persons and entities, and possible links with other wildlife crime cases in Lao PDR and abroad.

The Decision specifically directs the national operational mechanism to coordinate across authorities to inspect, prevent, suppress and dismantle transnational wildlife crime networks, particularly those involved in illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn, using lawful investigative measures. It also calls for forensic DNA analysis of seized specimens to verify species and, where confirmed, to expand investigations into their origin and illegal import routes.

Where evidence indicates international links, the competent authorities will strengthen intelligence exchange and law-enforcement cooperation with relevant countries and international mechanisms, consistent with Prime Ministers Decision No. 11/PM, including cooperation with INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and ASEAN-WEN, to identify individuals and entities involved and trace wider trafficking networks.

The direct oversight of the four Ministers, combined with coordinated action among national and local law-enforcement authorities, sends a clear message that the Government of Lao PDR regards serious wildlife trafficking as more than an issue of individual possession or isolated seizures. Major cases will be pursued through investigation, prosecution, forensic analysis, intelligence development and international cooperation with the objective of identifying, disrupting and dismantling organized criminal networks.

Relevant authorities will continue to preserve and examine evidence, pursue investigative leads and take strict legal action against persons found to be involved, in accordance with the laws and regulations of Lao PDR.

This major enforcement action represents a concrete implementation of the commitment of the Government under Prime Ministers Decision No. 11/PM and demonstrates the determination of Lao PDR to strengthen inter-agency coordination, combat organized and transnational wildlife crime, fulfil relevant CITES commitments, and move decisively from seizure toward investigation, prosecution and network disruption.