Oliver Conway

A caged tiger roars in pain and fear.

Bread for its body parts advertised on Facebook.

Imagine a global criminal trade where endangered species can be bought over the phone from Africa.

So 200 US dollars for kilo.

To be honest, it makes me sick to my stomach.

The authorities, though, say they are hitting back.

Here, a video of rare tortoises seized by police in Bangladesh.

Footage released by Interpol to mark the global success of Operation Thunder.

So there were over 2,000 live tarantulas seized during Operation Thunder.

Yes, you heard that right.

Thousands of tarantulas seized by Border Force in the UK during the initiative in September and October.

This is where we keep all our seized exhibits.

At a secret location near Heathrow Airport, I'm shown a room full of past seizures.

Danny Hewitt from Border Force says organised crime is behind the trade, but some customers here don't even realise what they're doing

When we see the movement of people and the settlement of communities in the UK, it drives a certain demand for traditional items, medicines, cultural items that may not have been illegal in other parts of the world but are illegal in the UK.

A trade increasingly driven by social media.

Back to the caged tiger on Facebook.

A Chinese seller offers me a tooth for $280.

$280.

A hand sifts through pangolin scales.