Illegal wildlife trade on UN agenda

The illegal trade in protected wildlife has, for the first time, made it onto the agenda of the UN Crime Congress which starts in Bangkok next week, announced the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a campaigning organisation committed to investigating and exposing environmental crime.

EIA investigations have often uncovered evidence that the international illegal trade in wildlife, which is second in value only to the illegal drugs trade, is driven by powerful, sophisticated international criminal networks. The international community has now recognised this link, and the need to treat this as serious organised crime.

Debbie Banks, EIA Senior Campaigner, said: "In India, the tiger and leopard skin trade is dominated by organised networks of poachers, tanners, couriers and dealers operating across the country and internationally. Breaking these networks will require real commitment from the professional enforcement community."

EIA’s recent report entitled ‘The Tiger Skin Trail’ which focuses on the illegal trade in tiger and leopard skins, revealed how serious criminals are taking advantage of the weak laws, uncoordinated enforcement and light penalties related to wildlife trafficking.

And, more recently, in EIA’s report entitled ‘The Last Frontier’, details of the world’s largest transnational timber smuggling racket were revealed, as well as the roles played by international syndicates and financiers from around Asia in the illicit trade in merbau logs from Indonesia to China.

Debbie Banks continued: "Placing wildlife crime on the agenda of the Crime Congress is a step in the right direction. However, following the meeting, it will require bold leadership to turn words into action. EIA hopes that the leaders of today will rise to the challenge, and that hard core enforcement, stricter laws and improved cooperation between countries will ensue."

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