LONDON ¨C The amount of medicinal products containing illegal wildlife parts seized by EU authorities has risen sharply in the last six years, according to monitoring group TRAFFIC, and includes items from a range of animals including tigers, bears and snakes.
EU authorities made 952 seizures of illegal wildlife medicines in 2016, up from 174 in 2011, a report by the group said.
A range of seized medicinal items found at a lock-up near Britain¡¯s Heathrow airport contained ingredients including Asiatic bears¡¯ stomach bile and tiger bone and a threatened species of South African cactus.
The medicines, such as Red Ant, a popular remedy from China that contains seahorse as a key ingredient, purport to treat everything from erectile dysfunction to cancer.
Many of the medicines originate in Africa, and a significant portion are destined for markets in Asia.
In the evidence lockup near Britain¡¯s Heathrow airport, home to a menagerie of confiscated wildlife contraband, U.K. Border Force investigator Jan Sowa picks up a tonic bottle from Asia, containing an entire snake.
¡°Most frequently we see these as tourist souvenirs, rather than serious medicinal aids,¡± Sowa said of the snake bottle, noting its English label.
The United Nations estimates the global market for illegal wildlife medicines is valued at $3.4 billion.
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