Page 107 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Tackling Environmental Crime throUgh standardized Methodologies

According to Europol the phenomenon of organised criminality in the
trafficking of wild species in the UE is on the increase, supported by per-
spective high profits in the face of a small risk of detection and limited san-
ctions.

Organised criminality is increasingly taking on a major role in the traffic-
king of wild species.

The EU has introduced several horizontal mechanisms to combat this
type of criminality in general the framework decisions against organised crimi-
nality and on the confiscation of assets, tools and proceeds from crime, but
these are still inadequate to combat organised criminality on international
level.

We consider it fundamental to adopt adequate policies aiming to combat
these phenomena through the systematic use and expansion of existing powers,
providing adequate funding for investigation and intelligence and strengthening
international cooperation among police forces.

It will also be necessary to pursue adequate policies to strengthen recep-
tion centres for the animals that have been abducted and confiscated. In this
respect we recognise an historical delay that must be addressed in order to sup-
port the forces of law and order.

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