INTERPOL - World Model United Nations

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,
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