The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime launches its 2023 Annual Report
The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) has launched its Annual Report for 2023.
The 2023 Annual Report highlights the successes and achievements of countries supported by ICCWC in combating wildlife and forest crime. The Consortium uses targeted and evidence-based approaches to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support to enhance responses to wildlife crime. This includes technical assistance, intelligence-led global operations, capacity building, financial investigations training, anticorruption risk assessments and support to mobilize forensic science in the fight against wildlife crime.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero stated: “Wildlife crime continues to be a global epidemic causing serious destruction to nature, communities, public health and global security. The good news is that CITES Parties have demonstrated again and again their commitment to enhance their efforts, both individually and collectively, to combat this crime and rise to the challenge. ICCWC is proud to have supported many efforts and initiatives across 2023, which have resulted in significant strides and notable achievements.”
Some highlights of the report include:
Focus Stories
Focus stories throughout this report showcase some of the Consortium’s collaborative efforts, as well as the importance of international cooperation across the criminal justice system. Highlights include:
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Global collaboration to combat illegal trade in big cats
ICCWC supported the CITES Big Cats Task Force which brought together authorities responsible for wildlife law enforcement, experts and other relevant stakeholders. Over 70 representatives from 28 countries met to develop strategies to strengthen law enforcement responses to combat illegal trade in big cats. The meeting focused on eight big cat species that are of highest concern from a conservation and illegal trade perspective. -
Using forensic science to combat wildlife crime
In 2023, a total of 37 wildlife crime investigations were supported by a wildlife DNA laboratory in Uganda. The laboratory became operational in 2022 with support from ICCWC and in partnership with TRACE Forensics Network and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The laboratory has been essential in supporting wildlife crime cases in Uganda and other African countries, yielding significant results. -
Thunder Series of global operations to combat wildlife crime
Operation Thunder 2023 marked the highest participation and engagement since the Thunder-series began, with 133 countries participating. The operation yielded impressive results with over 2,000 seizures of wild animals and plants and 500 arrests, while some investigations continue to bring offenders identified during the operation to justice. The report details these seizures, trends, data, and ICCWC support during pre- and post-operation phases. -
Enhancing wildlife crime responses in West and Central Africa
In support of Decisions adopted at the Conference of the Parties to CITES at its 19th meeting (CoP19), ICCWC in 2023 trained 163 law enforcement professionals in West and Central Africa. This included front line capacity building, national workshops for investigators and prosecutors, development of Rapid Reference Guides (RRGs) and training in legislation, investigation methods and judicial work. Watch the videos from training participants to learn more about the impact of ICCWC support.
ICCWC Toolkit and Indicator Framework implementation
Support was provided to 17 countries in 2023 to implement the recommendations resulting from assessments using the ICCWC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit and the ICCWC Indicator Framework for Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime. ICCWC analysis allowed many countries to create baselines against which progress can be measured and to create tailored strategies and action plans to combat wildlife crime. Over the last decade, ICCWC has supported countries to complete multiple Toolkit and Indicator Framework assessments and now the Consortium will increasingly focus on implementing recommendations resulting from this work along with monitoring progress.
International cooperation support
Work delivered under the auspices of ICCWC facilitated and made a significant contribution to strengthened international cooperation. The report outlines examples such as the 2023 Wildlife Inter-Regional Enforcement (WIRE) meeting which involved 36 countries, facilitated 86 informal bilateral discussions, and resulted in the initiation of joint investigations and new operations.
Support to combat corruption, address wildlife crime linked to the Internet and promote anti-money laundering investigations
In 2023, the Consortium continued its capacity building work, assisting countries in combating corruption, addressing wildlife crime linked to the Internet, and training over 400 professionals in addressing financial crime and money laundering.
What’s next?
The ICCWC Vision 2030 and its associated Strategic Action Plans demonstrate the Consortium’s commitment to continue to work closely with countries to further strengthen responses and combat wildlife crime, by working collectively and in a coordinated manner. National, regional and international cooperation will increasingly be fostered by providing training, support and networking opportunities with a focus on investigations, prosecutions and adjudications. The Vision pursue mobilizing entire criminal justice systems to ensure that the criminals involved in wildlife crime are brought to justice and the organized crime groups they belong to are disrupted.
Support provided by the Consortium to countries around the world is made possible thanks to the generous support of the European Union, France, Germany, Monaco, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.
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About ICCWC:
ICCWC - The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime.
ICCWC is a unique partnership of five intergovernmental organizations – The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank Group (WBG) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
Through technical assistance, tools, training, and operational support, ICCWC works along the entire criminal justice chain, building the capacity of frontline law enforcement in countries and regions around the world affected by wildlife crime.
Read the 2023 ICCWC Annual Report here.
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