Fighting transnational organised wildlife crime
Our mission at the Wildlife Justice Commission is to disrupt and help 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.
Our investigators work undercover to drive the wildlife criminals out of the shadows and bring an end to their multi-billion-dollar dirty business. We combine compelling evidence gathered through in-depth intelligence-led investigations with high-level political engagement with governments and law enforcement agencies to drive meaningful action against wildlife trafficking.
Almost all States are signatories to international treaties to combat organised crime and corruption, and many have domestic laws addressing forms of wildlife crime. However, these frameworks often fail to capture the scale and complexity of transnational organised wildlife crime, including where it intersects with other offences such as money laundering and corruption. These gaps are exploited by organised criminal networks, contributing to the continued degradation of our natural heritage.
Across the globe, elephants are killed for their ivory, rhinos for their horns, and pangolins—among the most heavily trafficked species—for their scales, while sharks are taken in vast numbers each year to supply the shark fin trade.
Organised criminal networks now operate on an industrial scale, decimating species, destroying habitats, and threatening communities.
Illegal logging, fishing, and wildlife trade are estimated to generate USD 1 trillion or more per year, with criminal networks operating across nations and continents, making this one of the most lucrative forms of transnational organised crime—comparable to the trafficking of drugs, people, and arms. It affects more than 4,000 animal and plant species and disproportionately targets those already on the brink of extinction.
The task we have set ourselves is daunting and often dangerous. Our goal is to identify and target those who profit most from wildlife crime, build evidence of their criminality, and enable – and, where necessary, pressure –governments to take significant action equal to the seriousness of the crime.
This short film explains how the Wildlife Justice Commission works, what type of organised criminal networks we investigate and why we do what we do. All with one clear objective: to disrupt and help dismantle transnational organised criminal networks trafficking endangered species.
Our First Decade: 10 Years of Impact
In 2015, the Wildlife Justice Commission was created to hold governments accountable for failing to address wildlife crime. Our initial focus was on Southeast Asia. The model was to gather actionable evidence, provide it to national authorities in the form of Case Files and if they did not take sufficient action, we could hold a Public Hearing.
In 2016, Wildlife Justice held its first and only Public Hearing, involving Vietnam. In response, Vietnamese authorities arrested and indicted several suspects, including a high-level rhino horn trafficker. Since then, all the Governments we approached, including Vietnam, have always acted upon the evidence that we have provided.
In 2017, we extended our investigations to Africa, and we stepped up our intelligence analysis efforts and cooperation with law enforcement. Between 2017 and 2018, we also took our first steps in policy work by urging governments to address wildlife crime in various international fora.
In 2019 and 2020, we expanded our policy work, and increasingly provided operational support to law enforcement.
Years of dedication and hard work came to fruition in 2021 and 2022 with the arrests of multiple wildlife trafficking kingpins (only some of which we can mention publicly) and the disruption of several transnational criminal networks.
In 2021 and in accordance with our Strategic Plan 2021-2026, the Wildlife Justice Commission is now putting more emphasis on strengthening the capabilities of our law enforcement partners and empowering governments to effectively enforce the law, aiming to bring us one step closer to a world without wildlife crime.
In 2022, we extended our intelligence-led investigation approach to fisheries crime and trafficking in threatened and protected marine species. This work targets land-based elements of the supply chains, focusing on the Americas, Oceania, Africa, and Asia.
In 2023, we increased our global reach and established in country presences in the United States of America and in Thailand to further our mission of disrupting and helping to dismantle the transnational criminal networks.
In 2024-2025, our work expanded into new regions, with successful operations leading to significant seizures and arrests across Africa, Asia, and marine territories. These efforts resulted in major disruptions to transnational criminal networks involved in the trafficking of vulnerable species with notable impact in countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as well as across South America and Southeast Asia.
