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Geneva, 7 February 2025 - The European Union (EU) awarded the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) €27 million to tackle organized crime networks trafficking in wildlife globally and reduce the demand driving this illicit trade, in collaboration with civil society organizations. The new initiative, GUARD Wildlife - G lobal U nited A ction to R educe and D ismantle Organized Wildlife Crime – aims to conserve endangered species and biodiversity for future generations. The project will be implemented

Nearly 20,000 live animals seized, 365 suspects arrested in largest-ever wildlife and forestry operation 138 countries and regions join forces to target fauna and flora trafficking worldwide Originally published by INTERPOL and WCO Nearly 20,000 live animals, all endangered or protected species, have been seized in a global operation against wildlife and forestry trafficking networks, jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO). Operation Thunder 2024 (11 November – 6 December) brought together police, customs, border control, forestry

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

Originally published by INTERPOL and WCO . Operation Thunder 2023: 2,114 seizures of endangered animals and timber in major international law enforcement operation Endangered animals including elephants, rhinos and pangolins, as well as protected timber, particularly tropical hardwoods, have been seized in a joint INTERPOL - World Customs Organization (WCO) operation to stop wildlife and timber trafficking. From 2 – 27 October, customs and police officers coordinated some 500 arrests worldwide and more than 2,000 confiscations of animals and plants

On 24 – 28 April 2023 the CITES Secretariat (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) convened a meeting of the CITES Big Cats Task Force in Entebbe, Uganda, to strengthen responses to the global illegal trade in big cats. Over 70 representatives from 28 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America and representatives from the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), other international inter-governmental, Regional Wildlife Enforcement Networks and

PRESS RELEASE On 21 and 22 November 2022 more than 100 representatives from networks, law enforcement authorities, inter-governmental organizations and other relevant organizations came together at the 4th Global meeting of Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs). Regional networks which comprise a variety of national wildlife law enforcement agencies across the criminal justice chain, including police, customs and prosecutors from around the world, came together to share experiences and enhance collaboration between wildlife law enforcement officers working to combat wildlife crime in

PRESS RELEASE On 18 November, alongside the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CoP19) that is taking place in Panama from the 14 th – 22 nd November 2022, Botswana and Panama highlighted at an event hosted by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) how the Consortium has contributed to their enforcement efforts and to enhance their responses to combat wildlife crime

PRESS RELEASE Next week marks the beginning of the 19 th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CoP19), taking place in Panama from the 14 th – 22 nd November 2022. As part of CoP19, the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) will not only report on its work to the Conference of the Parties (see CoP19 Doc. 17.5 ), but will also host

For use of the media only; not an official document. PRESS RELEASE Global arrests and seizures: WCO-INTERPOL Operation Thunder 2021 strikes wildlife and timber trafficking networks 30 November 2021 - A worldwide enforcement operation against wildlife and timber crime coordinated by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL has disrupted crime networks and seen hundreds of arrests worldwide. Codenamed Thunder 2021, the month-long (1-31 October) operation involved Customs, Police, financial intelligence units and wildlife and forestry enforcement agencies in 118

For use of the media only; not an official document. PRESS RELEASE The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime - Annual Report 2020 – Together Against Wildlife Crime The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime ( ICCWC ) has launched its Annual Report for the year 2020, titled Together Against Wildlife Crime. The report showcases how the Consortium’s partnerships with Member States and other stakeholders have helped enhance the capacity of customs, police, wildlife authorities and the entire criminal justice