Ivory, rhino horns, pangolin and tiger parts seized in transit from Africa to Asia
Ivory, rhino horns, pangolin and tiger parts seized in transit from Africa
to Asia
Mena FM
January 25, 2022
See link
https://menafn.com/1103594061/Ivory-rhino-horns-pangolin-and-tiger-parts-seized-in-transit-from-Africa-to-Asia
for photo.
SINGAPORE: An eight-week INTERPOL operation against wildlife crime and
trafficking resulted in arrests and seizures across Asia and Africa.
Codenamed Golden Strike, the operation – which ended late last year –
targeted the criminals and networks smuggling wildlife protected under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES) from Africa to Asia.
During the preoperational phase, countries worked together to identify
INTERPOL-wanted fugitives known to travel frequently between Africa, Asia,
the US and France, and who were wanted for their involvement in trafficking
ivory, rhino horn, pangolin and tiger parts between the two continents.
Intelligence shared between the 23 participating countries ahead of
operations enabled investigators to target emerging wildlife trafficking
routes, with officers conducting inspections at roadblocks and land, sea
and airport border points throughout the August-September tactical phase.
“The world's fourth-largest illegal trade – wildlife and forestry crime –
goes hand in hand with tax evasion, corruption, money laundering and even
murder, with organized crime groups using the same routes to smuggle
protected wildlife as they do people, weapons, drugs and other illegal
products,” said Ilana de Wild, Interpol's director of organized and
emerging crime.
“Strong, coordinated responses such as operation Golden Strike are needed
to address the activities of transnational organized crime groups involved
in wildlife crime and to disrupt illegal trade chains across range, transit
and destination states,” added Mrs de Wild.
Exceptional Outcome
Although results are still coming in, the operation has so far seen
seizures of several thousand wildlife products and the identification of
some 100 suspects across 23 countries, triggering worldwide arrests and
further investigations linked to wildlife trafficking.
A sample of seizures so far include:
1,202 ivory pieces weighing more than four tonnes
423 kg and 78 scales of pangolin species
50 rhino horns weighing 72 kg
46 kg totoaba bladders
More than 3,785 pieces and 52 kg of mollusks
42 shark teeth
33 red corals
1336 other CITES protected species
Live specimens including:
3 turtles and tortoises
More than 120 birds
“Operation Golden Strike has provided a platform for the participating
countries to take action in synchronicity, signaling the strong resolution
of police authorities in combating such crimes,” said Duan Daqi, head of
Interpol's National Central Bureau in Beijing. Operation Golden Strike is
funded by the government of China.
Emerging Trends
Illustrating that traditional routes continue to be used by the organized
crime groups behind wildlife trafficking between Africa and Asia, Malaysia
authorities seized 50 rhino horns arriving illegally from Mozambique.
Likewise, international police cooperation between South Africa and
Malaysia saw the arrest and prosecution of two suspects smuggling 45kg of
rhino horns between the two continents.
Qatari authorities seized 10 kg of rhino horns from Mozambique bound for
Vietnam, illustrating how wildlife products are increasingly transiting the
Middle East countries on their way to Asia.
Operations also saw an increase in pan African trafficking, such as a
seizure in the Democratic Republic of Congo of 50 kg of elephant tusks and
60 grey parrots bound for Uganda.
With pandemic confinement and travel restrictions over the past 18 months
forcing wildlife criminals to shift from physical to digital wildlife
markets, investigations saw an increase in wildlife crime committed over
e-commerce sites, social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
As a result, Thailand closed down 12 sites and 20 are under investigation.
Results also highlighted an increase in the use of birdcages to conceal and
smuggle ivory, as witnessed by Singaporean Immigration and Checks Authority
who seized a birdcage consignment containing 256 concealed ivory pieces.
Less than a month later, they intercepted a similar shipment containing 184
ivory pieces also concealed in birdcages.
Intelligence gathered during the operation and entered into INTERPOL's wide
range of police databases has triggered associated investigations ongoing
in other parts of the world, particularly in relation to cyber-enabled
wildlife cases.
Further arrests and prosecutions are anticipated as ongoing global
investigations progress worldwide.
Participating countries included Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Congo DRC, China (including Hong Kong), Gabon, Indonesia,
Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines,
Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.
INTERPOL's environmental security activities are all externally funded and
dependent on sustainable partnerships. ENS works in close collaboration
with governmental, non-governmental and international organizations to
disrupt transnational organized criminal groups involved in environmental
crime. These partners also help us to provide our member countries with
technical and logistical support.