A five-year undercover investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) into a Cambodian government official has been deemed a significant failure, resulting in the dismissal of six out of eight charges and an acquittal on the remaining counts. The investigation, dubbed Operation Long Tail Liberation, has been criticized for its flawed execution and alleged unlawful conduct, raising concerns about its impact on medical research and public health.

The investigation aimed to obstruct the importation of non-human primates (NHPs) for critical medical research but has instead led to a cessation of imports from Cambodia, which has historically been a major supplier of NHPs to the United States. Critics argue that the FWS, influenced by animal advocacy groups, prioritized a publicity campaign over legitimate enforcement actions, ultimately harming vital bioscience and vaccine research.

Key issues highlighted include the recruitment of an unmonitored Chinese national as an undercover informant, which allegedly violated international laws by conducting operations without proper consent from Cambodian or U.S. State Department officials. The investigation's mismanagement reportedly resulted in the government lacking credible evidence to support its charges against the Cambodian official.

Despite the acquittal, the FWS has continued to label the involved parties as unindicted co-conspirators, raising constitutional concerns. The agency's actions have been described as a de facto ban on importing NHPs from Cambodia, further complicating the landscape for medical research reliant on these animals.

The fallout from this investigation underscores the need for adherence to established international protocols and raises questions about the FWS's alignment with its mission in the face of external pressures from advocacy groups.