Interpol has mounted a global crackdown on wildlife and timber trafficking, making about 500 arrests in more than 130 countries.

The inter-governmental organization spent most of October carrying out operations to stop illegal transactions in cooperation with relevant authorities in 133 countries.

Interpol said it confiscated over 2,100 animals and plants.

In the massive clampdown, Czech authorities inspected a facility and seized eight golden-handed tamarins, a small species of monkey, which had been smuggled from South America.

An operation at an airport in Thailand found 17 endangered turtles in suitcases bound for Europe.

Interpol says 60 percent of wildlife trafficking cases were linked to transnational organized crime groups. The agency said their crimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated with methods such as using forged certifications, and conducting transactions in cryptocurrency.

Interpol's Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh, warned that large criminal groups are committing many types of crime. He pledged to work with countries across the world to hunt down such criminals.