UK task force to hit illegal wildlife fund network

Cutting out financial rewards from wildlife trade is the new frontier in the battle against traffickers, the UK government said as it launched a task force to stop criminal networks benefiting from the illegal trade.

With official backing that includes the United States Department of Justice, about 30 global banks and financial institutions, including JP Morgan and HSBC, have agreed to form the task force to target funds flowing from the trade.

The group aims to choke the ability of poachers and traders to move money.

Often the same gangs trafficking wildlife products are likely to move other illegal goods, such as drugs and weapons, according to officials.

“Wildlife trafficking is fundamentally about the proceeds and profits.

“This can take many forms, but whatever median it goes through, the hidden drive remains the same. Very little is being done to address this financial motivation,” said Cathy Haenlein, senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.

In parallel, British development aid will underwrite a project that will launch investigations, seize assets and train law enforcement in east and southern African countries.

“We can only stop the illegal wildlife trade by targeting the international gangs and criminal networks that essentially drive it,” said UK Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt.

“The illegal wildlife trade is driving endangered species to the brink of extinction and robbing communities around the world of vital income. To truly end this crime we need to tackle the corruption that allows the trade to flourish, with cross-border investigations which lead to successful prosecutions,” said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Funding consists of £3 million (Dh14.54m) from the UK’s Department for International Development and £0.5million from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“UK aid is directly supporting efforts to recover illegal assets, disrupt organised crime networks and stop the flow of dirty money so that we can protect endangered and trafficked species and bring those responsible to justice,” Ms Mordaunt said.

The task force signing ceremony was attended by Prince William and took place yesterday, before London hosts the Illegal Wildlife Conference, to take place today and tomorrow.

“This is not just an environmental issue, it is a serious and organised crime issue. There is a lot more to do because there is limited information available for policymakers,” said Lord Hague, the former UK foreign minister.

Ms Haenlein said in many cases the issue stemmed from the implementation and awareness of laws, and sometimes from gaps in legislation.

“This is particularly striking when we consider the scale,” she said.

“On a global scale it has become very clear financial tools are not being used to combat trafficking. This contrasts with other organised crime types. There is a tendency not to follow the currency but instead to follow the commodity and to stop at that seizure.”