Wildlife crime – a serious crime

More than just about wildlife

Dr Carlos Drews

Director, Global Species Programme

WWF International

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FIGHTING ILLICIT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING

A consultation with governments

Illegal wildlife trade, including timber and fish

• The 4th largest global illegal trade, worth US$19 billion per year, after

Narcotics Counterfeiting Human trafficking

Hong Kong makes largest ivory seizure worth $3.4m

21. October 2012

4 tonnes (1,200 tusks), hidden in two separate containers from Kenya and Tanzania

Photo: REUTERS/Apple Daily

Wildlife crime is aboutmore than just wildlife

• Can fund regional conflicts

• Destabilises society

• Leads to human deaths

• Is associated to other crimes

Where wildlife crime thrives:

• Corruption, weak enforcement, poverty • Absence of credible law enforcement, prosecution,

penalties and other deterrents • Increasing demand and accessibility• Not viewed as a transnational crime and justice issue • Rangers, police officers and customs officials not sufficiently

trained or equipped.• Lack of collaboration, coordination and accountability

Anson Wong in 2001, sentenced to 71 months imprisonment, pleaded guilty to "40 counts of smuggling, conspiracy, money laundering and violations of US wildlife protection laws”.

Solutions: from low to

high risk crime

• Establish effective deterrents: • Treat illicit wildlife trafficking as a serious crime

• Publicize deterrents

Solutions: from low to

high risk crime

• Adequate resources for law enforcement• Adjust legislation – criminal offence with at least 4

years imprisonment (UNODC)• Strengthening criminal investigation and judiciary• Cross-ministerial collaboration• Hold governments accountable

Solutions:

from high to low profitability

• Demand reduction• High sourcing and distribution costs (from

effective law enforcement)

Download the report:http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/species/problems/illegal_trade/

wildlife_trade_campaign/wildlife_trafficking_report/

A WWF contribution to