Page 181 - Supplemento 2-2016 (ENG)

Tackling Environmental Crime throUgh standardized Methodologies

hear stakeholders discussing the possibility of using “new” tools, such as enga-
ging informants and applying special investigative techniques.

However, and I am sure our colleagues in the Carabinieri would agree, all
these tools already exist! We already apply them when investigating other
serious crimes such as drug trafficking. Why do we make such little use of
informants, controlled deliveries and wiretapping when fighting wildlife crime?
At UNODC, and other international organisations, we are trying to expand the
use of these existing tools to wildlife crime.

Wildlife crime is a transnational organised crime, as evidenced by the large
wildlife seizures made around the world. For example, in April 2015, four ton-
nes of ivory were seized in Thailand. What is striking about this particular sei-
zure is the tortuous journey the ivory made. The large shipment, bound for
Laos, began its journey in the Democratic Republic of Congo and transited
through the Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, before
finally being seized in Thailand. Large seizures like this indicate that current
prevention measures are not working. Sending four tonnes of illicit ivory, in
multiple shipping containers, through seven countries requires highly sophisti-
cated criminal organisation.

DNA analysis was conducted on ivory samples from further large ivory
seizures in Asia and Africa. Scientists from the University of Washington sho-
wed that the ivory often came from the same locations in Western Central
Africa and Tanzania. From the ports of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam it would
then be shipped to Asia.

Seizures do not necessarily lead to convictions. This is well demonstrated
in a case that occurred in 2011 in Thailand. A UAE national on the way to
Dubai was caught at Bangkok airport with a suitcase containing four baby leo-
pards, among other protected species. Though initially detained, the trafficker
was released on bail and given back his passport.

A few days later he was back in Dubai. Assuming that the man had been
caught with, say, a kilogramme of heroin, the situation would have been han-
dled quite differently. Unfortunately, in many countries, the value of wildlife
and the impact of wildlife crime are still not considered as serious as other
kinds of crime.

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