Wildlife Criminal Arrested After INTERPOL Red Notice Leads Agencies to Sikkim

Hyderabad: Indian authorities carried out a major coordinated enforcement action and apprehended an international wildlife criminal linked to transboundary trafficking networks. They arrested Ms. Yangchen Lachungpa on 2 December 2025 in Lachung, North Sikkim. MP STSF and WCCB led the operation, and they received support from Sikkim Police, the Forest Department, the Judiciary, the District Administration and SSB units.

Meanwhile, the action followed an INTERPOL Red Notice issued on 2 October 2025, which WCCB secured as India’s INTERPOL Liaison Office. Officials described the arrest as a major milestone in India’s ongoing wildlife crime enforcement efforts.

Wildlife criminal linked to tiger parts and organised trafficking

Later, authorities took her to Gangtok for a medical examination. They then produced her before court on 3 December 2025. The court rejected her bail request and approved transit remand to Madhya Pradesh for proceedings in Narmadapuram.

The case began in July 2015 after officials seized tiger bones, pangolin scales, tiger skin and tiger bone oil extract in Satpura Tiger Reserve. Soon after, confessions from co-accused revealed her central role in a trafficking network that operated across Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and several Indian cities. She absconded after violating bail conditions in 2017. Consequently, authorities issued an arrest warrant in 2019. Her years of evasion finally ended with the December 2025 arrest.