'Wildlife Interpol' launched to aid endangered species

[Thom Little]

Officials from 10 south-east Asian countries gathered in Bangkok to launch a regional Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN) to combat criminal syndicates that smuggle exotic wildlife across borders for immense profits.

The agency, heralded as a wildlife Interpol, will ensure sharing of information between countries where the black market trading of items such as bushmeat, fur, pet birds, animal skins and reptiles is proving difficult to control. The global illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be worth at least $10bn a year, slightly less than the trafficking of arms and narcotics.

Despite reports from police, customs officers and environmental authorities that criminal networking across frontiers is increasing, it has taken more than a year for regional authorities to work out how best to share intelligence on poachers and smugglers. The derisory fines for offenders, and the meagre salaries of forest police and border patrolmen that left them vulnerable to bribery, have been major stumbling blocks.

Bangkok is considered a hub for the clandestine trade in endangered species because Thailand, in a region famed for its rich bio-diversity, has porous borders and a labyrinth of sea routes and air connections linking it to lucrative international markets.


http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article330681.ece

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Good, although

I'm suprised the 'real' Interpol aren't already doing this. I guess they're under too much pressure from politicians on a "no-drugs-or-porn" ticket to concentrate on other areas...