William tells top bosses: Together we can crush wildlife trafficking
PRINCE WILLIAM pleaded with business leaders yesterday to help end “abhorrent” criminal wildlife trafficking.
The Duke of Cambridge said: “Sadly, the demand for wildlife products has not diminished.
“There are still too many criminals who know that they can find a market and believe they can act with impunity.
“Everything that you do to root out corruption, improve your processes and techniques and flag suspicious activity to law enforcement helps make this trade too risky for criminals to stomach.”
The Duke said the record number of seizures and investigations last year was “encouraging” and praised Operation Blizzard, co-ordinated by Europol and Interpol, which resulted in 12 arrests and more than 4,000 seizures of live reptiles.
William gave his address at St James’s Palace to delegates of the UK-Africa Investment Summit on behalf of United for Wildlife Taskforces – which brings together conservation organisations, law enforcement, governments and global corporations.
He said: “The world’s largest transport and financial companies – many of whom are represented here today – are changing their everyday procedures.
“It is now becoming business as usual for transport companies to track down illegal wildlife products in their cargo and for banks to investigate and report suspicious transactions related to illegal wildlife crime.”
He called upon organisations to help end the trade which results in poaching that includes elephants and tigers.
He implored: “Please, please bring new ideas to the table, maintain and increase our momentum, and play your part in ending this abhorrent crime.”
The meeting was chaired by Lord Hague, the organisation’s chairman, and attended by US ambassador Woody Johnson,
UfW – founded by the Royal Foundation which runs the Princes’ charitable campaigns and has been joined by the Duchess of Cambridge – has grown from 12 private sector companies to more than 150 representing large parts of shipping, airline and finance.
They have supported more than 70 law investigations and contributed to 18 trafficker arrests, according to the organisation.