Archive · 5 Dec 2025
International Wildlife Criminal Arrested in Sikkim
A woman named Yangchen Lachungpa, who is 44 years old, was caught in Sikkim, India.
She is part of a big group that illegally trades animal parts like tiger bones and pangolin scales.
She was wanted by INTERPOL, which is like a global police for catching criminals.
The police in India worked with other groups to catch her.
They found her after a long time of looking.
She will go to court in Madhya Pradesh for her crimes.
The police think she is a big part of a larger group that trades these illegal animal parts across many countries.
Yangchen Lachungpa, a 44-year-old international wildlife offender, was arrested in Lachung, North Sikkim on December 2, 2023.
She is a key member of an organized trafficking network with links to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and several Indian cities.
The arrest is significant as it is linked to an INTERPOL Red Notice secured by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
Lachungpa was produced in court on December 3, and her bail plea was rejected, granting transit remand to Madhya Pradesh.
The case involves poaching and illegal trade of tiger body parts and pangolin scales, with seizures including tiger bones, pangolin scales, tiger skin, and tiger bone oil extract.
- Who
- Yangchen Lachungpa, a 44-year-old international wildlife offender
- What
- Arrest of a key member of an organized wildlife trafficking network
- When
- December 2, 2023
- Where
- Lachung, North Sikkim, India
- Why
- For her involvement in poaching and illegal trade of tiger body parts and pangolin scales
- Name
- Yangchen Lachungpa
- Age
- 44
- Arrest Date
- December 2, 2023
- Arrest Location
- Lachung, North Sikkim
- INTERPOL Red Notice Date
- October 2, 2023
- Case Registration Date
- July 13, 2015
- Case Location
- Kamti range, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Hoshangabad (now Narmadapuram)
- Seized Items
- Tiger bones, pangolin scales, tiger skin, tiger bone oil extract