Rewind to 2015: A time of impunity
Imagine a time when wildlife traffickers operated with near impunity, when the illegal trade in endangered species was seen as a low-priority crime, and when the survival of some of our planet’s most iconic species hung in the balance.
That was 2015; the year the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) was founded.
At the height of Africa’s poaching crisis, the WJC set out with an ambitious mission: to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish by collecting evidence and turning it into accountability so that organised crime is not driving species to extinction
The mission was clear but daunting. Intelligence on wildlife crime was scarce, corruption was rampant, and enforcement was fragmented. Yet, we believed that by investigating and collecting irrefutable evidence, we could force real change.
We started small, just a handful of dedicated professionals, one donor, and two cases. Our goal was to transform wildlife crime from a low-risk, high-reward trade into one where the risks far outweigh the benefits.
Fast forward to today, and we have surpassed even our own expectations.
From a bold vision to global impact
From our first office in The Hague, the City of Peace and Justice, the WJC has grown into a leading force in the fight against wildlife crime. Our expertise in intelligence-led investigations, undercover operations, and law enforcement collaboration has driven significant, tangible results:
Unlike traditional enforcement agencies constrained by national borders, the WJC operates at a transnational level, covering entire supply chains from end-to-end. Our intelligence-led model allows us to act with speed and agility—we can deploy investigative teams in under 24 hours, infiltrate trafficking networks, gather intelligence, and respond dynamically to emerging threats.
We ensure that seizures don’t just stop at interceptions. They lead to actual arrests and convictions, closing the impunity gap for wildlife traffickers.
Shifting the balance: Wildlife crime is no longer a low-risk business
A decade ago, wildlife crime was low-risk, high-reward for criminals. Today, that equation is changing.
Criminal networks are being forced to change their tactics under increasing pressure. Law enforcement agencies are proactively investigating wildlife crime, often for the first time. Wildlife crime is gaining recognition in global policy discussions, including at the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), and United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
We are proving that wildlife crime is serious organised crime and must be tackled as such.
The next chapter: A world free from wildlife crime
For a decade, the WJC has been on the frontlines of the fight against wildlife crime. But the fight is far from over.
The next decade will be critical. Criminal networks will continue to adapt, but so will we. We will expand our intelligence-led investigations, strengthen collaboration with law enforcement, and push for accountability to ensure wildlife crime is no longer a low-risk, high-reward enterprise. Additionally, we will continue to empower mandated agencies with the tools and expertise to effectively combat this growing threat.
Achieving justice for wildlife requires persistence, innovation, and collective action. By working together, we can continue to drive meaningful change and ensure organised crime is not driving species to extinction.
Because it takes a network to defeat a network.
