On Wednesday 19 July, the trial of three Vietnamese and one Guinean national accused of trafficking 7.1 tonnes of pangolin scales and 850 kgs of ivory concluded in Nigeria with the conviction of the four accused. The judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Lagos sentenced the accused to six years of imprisonment each or payment of fines in lieu of imprisonment.
Media releases
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission targets an international pangolin scale trafficking syndicate and corrupt law enforcement with the support of the Wildlife Justice Commission
Last week, in Port Klang, Malaysia, the Wildlife Justice Commission supported the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in an operation targeting corrupt customs and other members of an international wildlife trafficking network with the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Thailand.
The Wildlife Justice Commission publishes a new report on the key role of corruption in enabling wildlife crime
Today, the Wildlife Justice Commission published a new report focusing on the role of corruption as one of the most important enabling factors behind wildlife crime, in an attempt to bring more clarity to this murky subject. Corruption is the air that wildlife crime breathes; it is one of the key enablers of widespread and large-scale wildlife trafficking and one of the biggest obstacles to effective law enforcement.
New report by the Wildlife Justice Commission analyses how organised crime capitalises and exploits captive tiger facilities
The Wildlife Justice Commission publishes today a new report, 'To skin a cat: How organised crime capitalises and exploits captive tiger facilities', examining the role of tiger facilities in enabling tiger-related wildlife crime in Southeast Asia.
Wildlife Justice Commission publishes global threat assessment examining the current dynamics of rhino horn trafficking – and how to fight it
The Wildlife Justice Commission published today a threat assessment, on the state of rhino horn trafficking and efforts to fight it over the past decade: 'Rhino horn trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime (2012–2021): 2022 Global Threat Assessment.'
Wildlife Justice Commission publishes new report detailing the downfall of one of Vietnam’s biggest wildlife traffickers
The Wildlife Justice Commission published today a report: “Ah Nam: The downfall of Vietnam’s Wolf of Wall Street”, informing of the rise and fall of one of Vietnam’s biggest Wildlife traffickers.
World Rhino Day 2022: Putting rhinos back on the radar
Law enforcement agencies globally must address rhino horn trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime along with an increased focus on the higher level actors in the rhino horn supply chain. This was the key message that emerged from a joint webinar hosted by WWF South Africa and the Wildlife Justice Commission to mark World Rhino Day 2022.
Nigerian authorities arrest 8 suspects from major network trafficking pangolin scales and ivory
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced today that they have arrested eight suspects connected with the trafficking of pangolin scales and ivory from Nigeria.
Arrest of Major rhino poaching trafficker in Mozambique
On 27 July 2022, the Wildlife Justice Commission provided support to the Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal (SERNIC) during the arrest of a well-known rhino horn trafficker, Simon Valoyi, also known as Navara. The Wildlife Justice Commission acknowledges the outstanding work of SERNIC in bringing this suspect to justice.
A blueprint for success: What it takes to bring down a global ivory trafficking network
The Wildlife Justice Commission released a new report on China’s largest ivory smuggling case, detailing the inner workings of a wildlife crime syndicate and what it took to bring it down. Discover the complexity of transnational organised crime and learn useful insights for law enforcement.
The Wildlife Justice Commission partners with Arcadia to disrupt and dismantle transnational wildlife crime
Arcadia has awarded the Wildlife Justice Commission a grant of EUR 1,000,000 to support its core operations in the coming five years, bolstering its mission to disrupt and help dismantle the transnational criminal networks trading in wildlife, timber, and fish.
New joint operation with Nigeria Customs Service: two suspected high-level wildlife traffickers arrested, 1 tonne of pangolin scales seized
This new operation follows up on the one effected last July into the criminal network believed to be responsible for more than 50% of the major global ivory and pangolin seizures between 2018-2021.
Joint operation with Nigeria Customs Service leads to three arrests, seizure of 7.1 tonnes of pangolin scales and 870 kg of ivory
The Wildlife Justice Commission congratulates the Nigeria Customs Service for this successful operation, the ninth largest pangolin scale seizure in three years.
Dutch Postcode Lottery new grant to the Wildlife Justice Commission
The Dutch Postcode Lottery has awarded the Wildlife Justice Commission with a EUR 1.9 million grant for a three-year project addressed to build and strengthen intelligence capacity to fight wildlife crime in protected areas of Southeast Asia.
Investigation by the Wildlife Justice Commission reveals the displacement of ivory
International cooperation is needed to drive an intelligence-led law enforcement approach to deter the trafficking of ivory across the region, says the organisation
Measures to curb COVID-19 impact wildlife trafficking but organised criminal networks are still active and gearing up to increase operations, says new report
The Wildlife Justice Commission has released today an assessment on the impact that global measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 are having on wildlife trafficking dynamics.
The trafficking of pangolin scales must be tackled as a transnational organised crime, says new report
The Wildlife Justice Commission has released today, on the run up to Pangolin Day, the report Scaling Up: The Rapid Growth in the Trafficking of Pangolin Scales (2016-2019).
Operation Dragon: New evidence of the scale of corruption in the illegal turtle and tortoise trade in Southeast Asia
The report details our Operation Dragon, a 2-year investigation (2016-2018) into the multi-million-dollar illegal trade of endangered reptile species in South and Southeast Asia and the scale of the corruption that enables it.
The Wildlife Justice Commission and National Whistleblower Center form partnership
The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for cooperation, develop joint endeavours and exchange information with regards to transnational wildlife crime.
The Wildlife Justice Commission delivers new Case File to the government of Vietnam regarding a professional criminal network trading in more than USD 15 million worth of high-value wildlife products
One year after the WJC’s Public Hearing, it provides the Vietnamese government concrete evidence to collaboratively counter wildlife crime and notes progress in implementing Public Hearing recommendations.
The Wildlife Justice Commission concerned about the consequences of the rhino horn auction in South Africa
The Wildlife Justice Commission is extremely concerned about the possible consequences of the private rhino horn auction that it is taking place in South Africa this week, organised by South African rhino breeders, as it will likely fuel the demand for rhino horn in Asia.
The Wildlife Justice Commission delivers a Case File to the government of Lao PDR regarding a highly profitable wildlife criminal network
The Wildlife Justice Commission has presented the authorities of Lao PDR with a Case File regarding the open trade in endangered wildlife products.
Two of the four individuals arrested following the August 2016 collaboration between the WJC and Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) prosecuted and sentenced
"We are very pleased to have another successful collaboration with Prehilitan leading to seizures, arrests and convictions."
Europol and Wildlife Justice Commission team up against environmental crime
The agreement was signed by Europol’s Director Rob Wainwright and the Executive Director of the WJC Olivia Swaak-Goldman.
Independent panel confirms that immediate action by the Vietnamese government is required to shut down wildlife trafficking networks in Vietnam
The panel reminds the Vietnamese government to fulfil its obligations under the relevant international conventions.
The WJC announces the appointment of a new Executive Director
As the Wildlife Justice Commission steps into the next stage of its development, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Olivia Swaak-Goldman as Executive Director.
The WJC delivers Case File to government of China
The Wildlife Justice Commission has presented the authorities of China with a Case File regarding a large organised criminal network trading internationally in endangered wildlife species.
The WJC delivers Case File regarding a large criminal network to the government of Vietnam
The Wildlife Justice Commission has presented the authorities of Viet Nam with a Case File regarding a large organised criminal network trading in endangered wildlife species.
The WJC is awarded an €1.1m grant from the Dutch National Postcode Lottery
The Hague, 27 January 2016: The Wildlife Justice Commission has received an €1.1m grant from the Dutch National Postcode Lottery for 2016.