The 78th meeting of the Standing Committee (SC78) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) took place in Geneva from 3 - 8 February 2025.
During SC78, the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) reported on progress with the implementation of its work and hosted two events. Representatives from Parties and ICCWC partner organizations highlighted the importance of international collaboration and the collection and use of data to inform coordinated tackling of wildlife crime.
CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, said: “These events were an important opportunity to showcase some of the remarkable successes and experiences of CITES Parties, who are at the forefront of the efforts to combat wildlife crime. The value of global collaboration and availability of data on illegal wildlife trade were highlighted and demonstrated how Parties, with the support of ICCWC, are tackling this global challenge. The collaborative work and invaluable support that ICCWC offers to Parties will continue to be instrumental in working towards combating crime against wildlife.”
Strengthening International Collaboration to Combat Wildlife Crime
Multi-stakeholder cooperation is critical for combating wildlife crime. ICCWC fosters international collaboration that equips States with effective tools to combat illegal wildlife trade.
EU, ICCWC and civil society join forces to combat wildlife crime
A representative of the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission formally announced a generous contribution of €27 million towards the GUARD Wildlife - Global United Action to Reduce and Dismantle Organized Wildlife Crime - initiative, which will be implemented jointly by the European Union, ICCWC and Civil Society Organizations, to conserve wildlife by disrupting crime and reducing demand for illegally obtained specimens.
Operation Thunder 2024: Nearly 20,000 live animal seizures and 365 suspects arrested
Now in its eighth year, Operation Thunder is a joint operation coordinated annually by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO) with the backing of the CITES Secretariat and ICCWC.
INTERPOL and the WCO explained how this intelligence-driven operation is organised and has evolved based on lessons learned and needs identified, with targeted capacity building, online investigations to expand their reach, analysis of supply chain vulnerabilities and specific support to financial crime investigations. 
The Nigeria Customs Service shared examples of CITES-listed species seized as part of Operation Thunder 2024, including live Rose-Ringed Parakeets, African Grey Parrots and Tortoises.
Thunder 2024 brought together officials from 138 countries and territories, marking the widest participation since the first edition of the operation in 2017. These regular operations enable investigators to build a comprehensive global intelligence picture and detailed offender profiles, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of enforcement efforts and resolution of cross-border cases.
Wildlife Inter-Regional Enforcement (WIRE) Forum
The WIRE Forum is a platform for criminal justice officials to address the key challenge of cross border collaboration. In November 2024, the Forum brought together 90 representatives from 36 countries and territories across four continents to develop and strengthen informal networks of cooperation.
Participants joined working groups, which provided a practical, hands-on way to share expertise, look at what works and what does not, and explore new strategies. One of the most valued and successful elements of the Forum is the dedicated day for restricted meetings among government officials from different countries. Over the course of 65 restricted meetings, critical information was shared about cases. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has a dedicated enforcement expert to follow up on the exchanges and in 2024 alone, supported 18 transnational investigations.
A representative from UNODC said: “WIRE is more than just a forum — it’s about the connections that spark real action. The conversations and networks built at WIRE bridge gaps across countries and continents, and drive transnational investigations. That’s why we’re so committed to growing and evolving this platform—it fills a real need.”
A representative of China’s CITES Management Authority, noted how the 2024 WIRE “provided a valuable opportunity for China, the United States, and Mexico to engage in direct discussions on totoaba trafficking, a pressing issue that requires close cooperation among source, transit, and destination countries. This meeting allowed for frank exchanges on law enforcement, key challenges, and the necessary next steps to disrupt this illegal trade. Such face-to-face engagement among enforcement agencies is essential for building trust, sharing intelligence, and coordinating joint actions.”
Synergies between ICCWC and the World Bank Group’s Global Wildlife Program 
A key partnership for ICCWC is with the World Bank-led Global Wildlife Program (GWP). This program seeks to address illegal wildlife trade across 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America by serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and coordination and supporting on-the-ground actions.
The World Bank Group highlighted the significant funding of USD 359 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which finances the GWP, along with co-financing of USD 2 billion from governments, civil society and other donors.
The Role of Data in Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade
Data-driven approaches in deterring, detecting, and dismantling criminal networks involved in illegal wildlife trade are increasingly important to combat wildlife crime. Accurate and comprehensive data serves as a cornerstone for effective decision-making and long-term strategies by Parties to combat illegal wildlife trade.
CITES Annual Illegal Trade Reports
The CITES Illegal Trade Database contains data on individual wildlife seizures at the global level, as reported by CITES Parties through Annual Illegal Trade Reports since 2016. As of November 2024, almost 130,000 seizure records reported by Parties were recorded in the Database, covering 146 countries and territories. The CITES Secretariat explained how the value of the CITES Illegal Trade Database is becoming increasingly evident as more data is recorded. UNODC highlighted how countries can access and benefit from the data to shape their law enforcement responses to wildlife crime.
The Austrian CITES Management Authority showcased experiences in using seizure data, as well as success stories and complexities related to data collection and submission, illustrating the practical applications of wildlife crime data in shaping enforcement strategies, with the example of illegally imported eel meat.
World Wildlife Crime Report 2024
The World Wildlife Crime Report 2024 highlights that wildlife crime remains a worldwide challenge, affecting 162 countries/territories. Between 2015 and 2021, a total of 4,000 species being illicitly traded were seized.
UNODC highlighted that despite two decades of concerted action at international and national level, wildlife trafficking still persists. There are positive signs of a reduction in trafficking of some iconic species, such as elephants and rhinoceros, due to a combination of efforts on both the demand and supply sides, which have yielded positive outcomes.
International Donor Funding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade (World Bank Group Analysis)
Clear understanding of wildlife trafficking trends should be the foundation to guide strategic investments in combating the illegal trade.
The World Bank Group presented preliminary findings of the 3rd edition of the ‘Analysis of International Donor Funding to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade’, which assessed the current state of international donor funding to combat illegal wildlife trade, analysing investment trends since 2010. The forthcoming report will cover Africa, Asia, and for the first time - Latin America and the Caribbean. Globally, over USD 3.63 billion have been invested in combating illegal wildlife trade during 2010-2023, with an annual average of USD 269 million. Top-funded interventions included protected and conserved area management to address poaching, criminal justice, and sustainable livelihoods. On the other hand, less funded areas included research and assessment (only 7% of the funding, or USD 244 million) and demand reduction (5%, or USD 198 million), remarking the importance of continuing funding these areas.
What’s next?
ICCWC will continue to work with Parties to further strengthen responses and combat wildlife crime, through implementation of the ICCWC Vision 2030 and its associated Strategic Action Plan 2023-2026.
ICCWC will again report on progress at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) in November 2025 in Uzbekistan.
See the full presentations from the side events here.
