It is laudable that the first global operation led by Interpol and supported by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), targeting individuals wanted for serious environmental crime, has been announced recently.
The initial phase of Interpol’s Operation “Infra-Terra” (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest), is targeting nine fugitives wanted for environmental crime, in particular wildlife crime. The entire operation is meant to catch 139 fugitives wanted by 36 member countries for a variety of environmental crimes, including illegal fishing, wildlife trafficking, illegal trade and disposal of waste, illegal logging and trading in illicit ivory.
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has added its voice to support its ICCWC partners in asking for the public’s assistance to provide information that could help track down the suspects whose cases were selected for this initial phase.
The CITES chief of Enforcement Support, Ben Janse van Rensburg has described the operation as a big step forward in the fight against wildlife criminal networks. Pointing out that historically, countries have not drawn on these law enforcement tools to hunt down fugitives wanted for offences against the natural heritage, he conveyed the appreciation of the CITES Secretariat to governments that are making use of this mechanism and strongly support the initiative to combat wildlife crime and the kingpins behind it.
Wildlife crime has become a serious threat to the security, political stability, economy, natural resources and cultural heritage of many countries. The extent of the response required to address this threat effectively is often beyond the sole remit of environmental or wildlife law enforcement agencies, or even of one country or region alone.
It was reported on Friday that as many as 1,200 rhinos have been poached in South Africa this year for their horn, scuppering multiple efforts authorities to curb the slaughter of the endangered species. The vast Kruger National Park has been hit the hardest by poachers, with 672 killed inside the park.
Last year, 1,004 beasts were poached in parks across the country. The latest statistics prove that a large number of heavily armed poachers continue to defeat all the protection measures.
It is in this context that the new operation has to be seen. The global mission will extend efforts beyond national borders and across range, transit and destination states in support of a collective global response to fight such crime.
Technical and financial support for the operation is offered by the ICCWC, thanks to the generous contribution of the European Union. Information on the possible location of the targets of Operation Infra-Terra, or any internationally wanted persons, can be sent to Interpol’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit. Information can also be given anonymously to any national “Crime Stoppers” programme.
With 180 member states, CITES remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora.
CITES regulates international trade in over 35,000 species of plants and animals, including their parts and products, ensuring their survival in the wild, with benefits for the livelihoods of local people and the global environment.
The CITES permit system seeks to ensure that international trade in listed species is sustainable, legal and traceable. The 15th conference of the Parties to CITES was held in Doha in March 2010.
