Interpol-Wanted Tiger Trafficker Yangchen Lachungpa Captured in Dramatic Himalayan Raid After Decade-Long Manhunt
In a high-stakes operation blending intelligence surveillance and cross-border coordination, Indian wildlife authorities have arrested Yangchen Lachungpa, a 43-year-old Tibetan national described as a pivotal figure in one of Asia’s most extensive illegal wildlife trafficking networks.
Lachungpa, who had evaded capture for nearly a decade, was apprehended on December 2, 2025, in the remote Himalayan village of Lachung, North Sikkim, just kilometers from the Indo-China border.
The arrest, hailed as a “major breakthrough” by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was executed by the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (MPSTSF) in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
It followed an Interpol Red Notice issued on October 2, 2025, at India’s request, marking one of the rare instances where such an international alert directly led to a wildlife trafficker’s capture.
Lachungpa appeared in court in Gangtok on December 3, where her bail application was denied. Authorities secured a transit remand to transport her to Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh, for trial in a case stemming from 2015 seizures of tiger remains and other contraband.
A Decade of Evasion: From 2015 Seizures to Global Fugitive Status
The case traces back to July 13, 2015, when forest officials in the Kamti Range of Satpura Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, uncovered a cache of illicit wildlife products during routine patrols. The haul included:
Tiger skin
Four pieces of tiger bones
Tiger bone oil extract
1.5 kg of pangolin scales
These items were destined for black markets in China via Nepal, where tiger parts can fetch up to $5,000 per kilogram for their purported medicinal value.
Investigations revealed a sophisticated transnational syndicate involving 31 accused, with 27 already convicted by a Narmadapuram court in 2022. A key breakthrough came in October 2015 with the arrest of Jai Tamang, Lachungpa’s former husband, who confessed to supplying contraband to her in exchange for shelter.
Tamang’s testimony positioned her as a “linchpin” in the network, coordinating procurement and smuggling routes.
Lachungpa was briefly detained in September 2017 but absconded after violating bail conditions, prompting an arrest warrant in July 2019.
Her evasion tactics—frequent relocations between Delhi, Sikkim, and border areas—earned her the moniker “ghost” among investigators.
In January 2025, the arrest of another network member, Tashi Sherpa, near Darjeeling provided crucial leads, including call records that pinpointed her location.
The Raid: A “Movie-Style” Operation in Freezing Conditions
The December 2 capture unfolded like a thriller: Under cover of a sub-zero Himalayan night (–7°C), a joint team encircled Lachungpa’s residence after months of technical surveillance and decoy maneuvers. Local Sikkim police provided support amid procedural hurdles near the sensitive border zone.
“This operation revives a decade-old case and strikes at the heart of organized wildlife crime,” said a senior MPSTSF official, noting the rarity of female-led arrests in such syndicates.
Network Exposed: Links to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Beyond
Lachungpa, a resident of Lachung with operations in cities like Delhi, Siliguri, Gangtok, Kolkata, Kanpur, Itarsi, and Hoshangabad, allegedly orchestrated smuggling corridors for:
Tiger parts (bones, skins, derivatives)
Pangolin scales
Red sanders wood
Shahtoosh wool
Cordyceps fungus
Her network exploited the Himalayan belt’s porous borders, funneling goods to high-demand markets in Asia.
Officials believe her arrest could dismantle remaining cells, potentially preventing the poaching of dozens more tigers—India’s population of which stands at around 3,167, per 2022 estimates.
Wildlife experts emphasize that such trafficking fuels the endangerment of Bengal tigers, with only about 2,500-3,000 left in the wild globally.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav praised the operation as a “testament to India’s resolve against wildlife crime,” underscoring enhanced international cooperation via Interpol.9d1b7d The case highlights the challenges of cross-border smuggling, where annual global wildlife trade is valued at $20 billion, per UN estimates.
As Lachungpa faces charges under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, authorities anticipate further revelations from her interrogation, potentially leading to additional arrests.
