2 Transnational Organized Crime and Illegal Wildlife Trafficking
Akella, Anita Sundari and Crawford Allan, ‘Dismantling Wildlife Crime’, TRAFFIC (2012)
Summary: An executive summary of a TRAFFIC report yet to be published, this report looks at ways to reduce wildlife crime. With an impact that reaches beyond environmental concerns, wildlife crime in a globalized world threatens national and international security owing to the involvement of transnational organized crime groups and armed non-state actors, according to an article cited in this report.85 The authors state that there needs to be increased awareness from governments in order to formulate strategies and overcome the challenges of wildlife crime. Key words: Armed NSAs, transnational security threats, international engagement
Elliott, Lorraine, ‘Fighting Transnational Environmental Crime’, Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 66, No. 1 (Fall/Winter 2012)
Summary: This article takes a broader examination of transnational environmental crime (TEC). Elliott notes that high profits and low risk make this crime attractive to organized criminal gangs, who engage in transnational schemes involving multiple participants and criminal nodes, enabling bulk consignments of illegal wildlife products to be moved across borders. Janjaweed operating in Chad and Somali armed groups in Kenya are mentioned in connection with the increase in elephant poaching across East and Central Africa, although the role of these groups in the international illegal wildlife trade is not discussed. Key words: TEC, TOC, institutional corruption, Janjaweed
EUROPOL, ‘EU Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment’ (2013)
Summary: In this strategic report, trafficking in endangered species (TES) is highlighted as an area of serious organized crime in the EU. It is a niche market attracting highly specialized organized crime groups, which are innovative in obtaining products – from stealing rhino horn in exhibition halls and museums to theft during auction sales. The perception of low risk and high profitability associated with this crime continues to attract interest from criminal organizations. Crime enablers include the economic downturn, cross-border opportunities and the use of the internet, as well as weak legislation. The report notes that more than 30 per cent of crime groups
85 The Independent (2011), ‘The £6bn trade in animal smuggling’: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-1636bn-trade-inanimal-smuggling-2233608.html.
