INTERPOL - World Model United Nations

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are virtually non-existent and international agencies are extremely ill-funded. 12 As John Sellar, a Senior Enforcement Ocer of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, explains, “Banks are covered by insurances and the money stolen can therefore be replaced. But once the last snow leopard is poached, it is gone forever.” 13 The criminality, danger, exploitation, !"#$%&'()*$*++"$,"$-,.#.,/+$0&,1+$ !&+$0'1%!&!2.+$)'$)3'*+$/'4"#$ ,"$)3+$)&!/(05,"6$'/$"!&0'),0*7$ 341!"*7$!"#$(&+!&1*8$93'463$ #+!)3*$!"#$,":4&,+*$&+*4.),"6$/&'1$ ,..+6!.$-,.#.,/+$)&!#+$!&+$1'&+$ ,"#,&+0)$!"#$!&,*+$/&'1$#,*+!*+$ !"#$.'**$'/$.,;+.,3''#7$)3+
species list from extinction. In particular, resurges of alligator, crocodile, rhinoceros, and elephant populations around the world are credited in large part to CITES’ eorts. 20 However, CITES can only go so far in reversing species degradation without the cooperation of domestic law enforcement agencies. Much needs to be done to transfer the international scientic and management expertise on wildlife crime control to regional and local bodies. As an example, CITES banned trade in rhino horns as early as 1977 and ivory in 1983, 21 yet the practice of ivory trade still continued ourishing, destroying 97% of rhinoceros species and 90% of elephant populations by the 1990s. 22 Izgrev Topkov, former Secretary-General of CITES, has encapsulated the issue quite succinctly: “CITES establishes only the framework whereby the participating countries to the Convention have agreed to regulate international trade in certain species of wild animals and plants. e practical aspects of creating an infrastructure to control this trade are le up to the countries concerned. It is no secret that traditional enforcement methods have largely failed for the protection of some African species.” 23 When discussing the benets of CITES, it is important for INTERPOL members to keep its shortcomings in mind in order to best address how to improve its implementation and realization. Part of an August 2007 seizure in Russia of 480 bear paws, a Siberian tiger pelt and bones, and 20 kg of wild ginseng, all destined for China. e smuggling gang involved received jail sentences of up to 8 years. (http://www.cawtglobal.org/ wildlife-crime) In 1994, experts from nine Southern and Eastern African nations met in Nairobi, Kenya, to set up the 1.2 What new-found indicators point to poaching as a syndicated crime? -Increased use of gangs, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition -Violence against law enforcement personnel -Corruption of law enforcement personnel using monetary or sexual bribes, blackmail, and other means -Exploitation of civil unrest -Financial investment into processing and marketing -Attitude of “inviolability” of those involved -Sophistication of smuggling routes and techniques -Use of “mules” and couriers -Sophisticated forgery and counterfeiting of documents -Fraudulent advertising for wildlife parts on the Internet -Connection of known organized crime group members to poaching -Huge prots in a short time—a known factor in the history of organized crime rst international African Task Force on illegal wildlife tracking. is agreement stems from a 1992 initiative from Lusaka, Zambia titled Co-Operative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna. eir initiative is a regional attempt to crack down on smuggling syndicates whose operations go beyond the reach of any national Law Enforcement Organization (LEO). e Task Force meets annually and consists of Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, along with international donors and activists from CITES, INTERPOL, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 24 Such regional eorts are commendable and stand to be replicated in other areas of the world. PRESENT RELEVANCE Today, wildlife crime is becoming increasingly more sophisticated and organized (see box) due to advances in technology, transportation, and regional conict. Wildlife crime is now a signicant factor -- alongside habitat destruction, pollution, and exploitation -- in the decline of species around the world. 25 As an example, rhinoceros poaching has increased dramatically this year, Harvard WorldMUN 2012 INTERPOL 9
Page 1 and 2: INTERPOL World Model UN 2012 Backgr
Page 3 and 4: KATHLEEN TANG Secretary-General SAM
Page 5 and 6: KATHLEEN TANG Secretary-General SAM
Page 7: T OPI C A: W I LDLI FE CRIME STATEM
Page 11 and 12: implement preventive measures (see
Page 13 and 14: works to coordinate wildlife crime
Page 15 and 16: advice on the eects of trade, respe
Page 17 and 18: and international trade organizatio
Page 19 and 20: Simvastatin tablets ordered via the
Page 21 and 22: Police in Jakarta burned seized cou
Page 23 and 24: eective database can be created eit
Page 25 and 26: drugs to be one of its main priorit
Page 27 and 28: American Pharmacists Association, S
Page 29 and 30: United Nations Environmental Progra
Page 31 and 32: 37 $FPE98 38 $C+!#+&TE,..,!1*$MI]8
Page 33: 115 Ibid8 116 $E+&)3+,1+&8 117 Ibid

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