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Global hunt for environmental crime: Interpol sounds the alarm!
International cooperation to combat environmental crime: Interpol and WWF strengthen the protection of biodiversity and the climate.
Global hunt for environmental crime: Interpol sounds the alarm!
A huge blow to global environmental crime: In an unprecedented operation, more than 20,000 live animals and numerous products from protected species were confiscated in 138 countries last year. Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza underlined the frightening consequences of these illegal activities: “These criminal networks exploit nature to feed human greed.” The loss of biodiversity, the destruction of communities and the exacerbation of climate change are direct consequences, such as WWF reported.
In the course of this global operation, not only were live animals confiscated, but it also uncovered six international networks suspected of conducting illegal trade in protected animals and plants. DNA samples from the seized animals will now be used for legal action before the animals are transferred to appropriate sanctuaries. A return to their natural habitats is only possible if the animals are healthy. Interpol announced that over a hundred companies involved in this illegal trade have been identified, showing how deeply entrenched the problem is in the global economy.
Strengthening law enforcement
In order to be able to combat such environmental crimes better in the future, a new project is being launched, which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUV) as part of the International Climate Protection Initiative (IKI). The collaboration between WWF and INTERPOL aims to detect and prevent cross-border crimes that have serious impacts on the environment and biodiversity. This collaboration is particularly necessary because civil society organizations, which are often the first to uncover such crimes, are exposed to a variety of risks. The project will provide targeted information to minimize risks, particularly in critical regions such as the Amazon region and the Congo Basin, where nature and human rights organizations are particularly at risk.