The remarkable return of Madagascar’s lemurs and tortoises in late 2024 was a story of hope and resilience. That story now enters a new chapter—defined by justice, disruption, and accountability.
Wildlife trafficking remains one of the most urgent threats to biodiversity today. Across regions, species, and ecosystems, it continues to drive extinction, degrade governance, foster corruption, and fuel transnational criminal networks that often traffic not just wildlife, but also drugs, arms, and people.
How enforcement can give wildlife a fighting chance Read more »
News
The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has published a new report revealing a remarkable and sustained disruption in the trafficking of pangolin scales and ivory from Africa to Asia. Titled Disruption and Disarray: An analysis of pangolin scale and ivory trafficking, 2015–2024, the report documents a sharp decline in significant seizures since 2020, pointing to a shift in the criminal landscape and the potential long-term impact of targeted law enforcement efforts.
We’re proud to share our latest report, Disruption and Disarray, which takes a deep dive into pangolin and ivory trafficking trends over the last decade —revealing a significant and sustained disruption in the flow of these products from Africa to Asia.
In a major strike against wildlife trafficking in Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), supported by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), arrested five suspects and seized 3.765 tonnes of pangolin scales in Lagos, an amount estimated to represent the killing of over 1,900 pangolins.
In a significant victory against transnational wildlife crime, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the arrest of a suspected high-level Chinese wildlife trafficker in Lagos. Acting on intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), NCS carried out the arrest on 19 February 2025. This operation represents a critical disruption to organised wildlife crime networks operating between Nigeria and Asia.
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.
A decade of impact: Taking down the kingpins of wildlife crime Read more »
News
On 5 December 2024, a major operation led by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with support from the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), has resulted in the arrest of a suspected pangolin scale broker and the seizure of 2.179 tonnes of pangolin scales, equivalent to approximately 1,100 pangolins.
2024 has been a transformative year for the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), marked by remarkable progress in our mission to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish.
2024 in review- A year of impact in the fight against wildlife crime Read more »
News
On a warm November day in 2024, a cargo plane touched down in Madagascar, carrying an extraordinary group of passengers: 759 radiated tortoises, 155 spider tortoises, 31 brown lemurs, and 16 ring-tailed lemurs.
The journey home: How lemurs and tortoises found their way back to Madagascar Read more »
Investigations News
Environmental crimes like wildlife trafficking have a devastating impact on every nation with far-reaching impacts on people and the planet, threatening biodiversity, destabilising ecosystems, and undermining international security.
The Wildlife Justice Commission actively participated in the UNTOC COP to urge States to prioritise the fight against crimes that affect the environment, particularly wildlife crime, and to collaborate with civil society and other partners in effectively addressing these urgent issues.
Advancing global action against crimes that affect the environment at UNTOC COP12 Read more »
News Political Will
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with support from the Wildlife Justice Commission, successfully conducted two major operations on 8 August 2024, resulting in the combined seizure of over 9.4 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrests of four suspects. These operations mark a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks in Nigeria.
In early 2024, the Wildlife Justice Commission launched a series of training and mentoring programs. These initiatives were designed to empower Mozambican law enforcement agencies, particularly SERNIC, in their efforts to disrupt organised wildlife trafficking networks.
Strengthening law enforcement capacity to combat wildlife crime in Mozambique Read more »
Capacity building News
On World Rhino Day, we reflect on the ongoing battle against rhino horn trafficking and celebrate significant victories, while acknowledging the challenges that persist. Rhinos continue to be targeted by transnational criminal networks driven by greed, however recent advancements in law…
In a significant victory against rhino horn trafficking, Simon Valoi, also known as “Navara”, and Paulo Zucula, two notorious figures in the illegal rhino horn trade, have been convicted and sentenced respectively to 27 and 24 years in prison in Mozambique.
In a coordinated effort, the Special Wildlife Investigations Unit (SWIU), supported by Focused Conservation and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), successfully conducted a joint operation resulting in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of 525 kilograms of pangolin scales in Monrovia, Liberia, on 10 July 2024.
Joint operation leads to four arrests and major seizure of pangolin scales in Liberia Read more »
Investigations Media releases News
In a significant blow to global wildlife trafficking, the South African Police Service (SAPS), acting on intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission, has arrested Vietnamese wildlife trafficker Nguyen Huu Tao and his associate, Nico Scoltz, for allegedly attempting to illegally sell lions.
As a parent, I often wonder about the world my children will inherit. Will they grow up marveling at the same incredible wildlife we have today, or will those species be lost forever? This question drives my work at the Wildlife Justice Commission, where we are dedicated to disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal networks that threaten our planet’s biodiversity. Imagining a future without tigers, rhinos, turtles, pangolins, sharks and many other species is devastating; we must act now to prevent their extinction.
The Wildlife Justice Commission was present at the 21st International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), the world’s largest anti-corruption forum that unites all sectors and movements to tackle the challenges that corruption poses to the global order, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Our aim in attending the conference was to raise awareness of the role of corruption in facilitating environmental crimes and to provide concrete recommendations to address these issues.
The Wildlife Justice Commission is thrilled to announce the publication of its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting a year of remarkable achievements. Throughout 2023, our unwavering commitment to disrupting transnational criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking led to significant successes in countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where we played a crucial role in facilitating substantial arrests.
The Wildlife Justice Commission publishes its 2023 Annual Report Read more »
News
I am thrilled to share the exciting news that the Wildlife Justice Commission has been prominently featured in Patrick Alley’s highly anticipated book, “Terrible Humans”. Patrick a staunch ally in the fight against environmental crimes through his pioneering work with Global Witness, which he co-founded, has shed light on our pivotal battle against wildlife crime in his latest publication.
In a landmark joint operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), supported by the Wildlife Justice Commission has successfully arrested two major wildlife traffickers in Nigeria. These arrests are linked to the significant seizure of 1.58 tonnes of ivory at Lach Huyen International Port, Hai Phong, Vietnam on 27 March 2024.
The Wildlife Justice Commission’s participation at the 33rd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna marked a pivotal step in advocating for enhanced global efforts to combat crimes that affect the environment, particularly wildlife trafficking.
Advancing the fight against crimes that affect the environment at the CCPCJ Read more »
News Political Will
In a significant blow to the illegal live pet trade, Thai law enforcement agencies, acting on intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission, have executed a significant operation on 1 May 2024. The operation resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the seizure of 1,076 radiated tortoises and 48 lemurs, concealed within 41 boxes and 11 cages respectively, while being transported in a four-vehicle convoy in Chumphon Province, Southern Thailand.
To shed light on the multifaceted challenges posed by illegal activities in our oceans, the Wildlife Justice Commission and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) co-organised a Satellite Event titled “From Surviving to Thriving: Combatting Crimes in the Fisheries Sector for Healthy and Resilient Oceans”, as part of the UN Ocean Decade Week.
The trial of two suspects accused of orangutan trafficking concluded in Indonesia on 26 February 2024 with a significant conviction. They had been arrested as a result of a joint investigation by the Wildlife Justice Commission and the INP aimed at dismantling orangutan supplier networks operating from Indonesia to Thailand.
Demonstrating the ongoing commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to combat wildlife crime, three suspected wildlife traffickers were apprehended in Nigeria on 4 February 2024, with a fourth arrest made on 6 February 2024. This successful operation was a joint intelligence-led investigation by the NCS and the Wildlife Justice Commission, targeting illicit wildlife supplier networks.
Arrest of four wildlife traffickers in joint operation with Nigeria Customs Service Read more »
Investigations Media releases News
2023 was an outstanding year for the Wildlife Justice Commission, marked by significant achievements. Our unwavering commitment to disrupt and help dismantle transnational criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking led to notable successes in countries such as Nigeria, Mozambique, Indonesia, and Malaysia, where we played a crucial role in facilitating substantial arrests. We considerably extended our global reach and continued sharing our expertise with law enforcement, policy makers, and practitioners worldwide.
Reaching new milestones against wildlife crime in 2023 Read more »
News
The Wildlife Justice Commission is dedicated to advocating for solutions to address corruption. In pursuit of this objective, we participated in the 10th session of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) in Atlanta last week.
The Wildlife Justice Commission is launching a new podcast in the Wildlife Kingpin series. Following on from “Wildlife Kingpin: The Rise and Fall of Ah Nam”, comes “Operation Dragon”. This second series sheds light on the investigation conducted by the Wildlife Justice Commission that brought to justice some of the biggest turtle and tortoise traffickers in Southeast Asia.
The Wildlife Justice Commission is proud to be one of the 301 civil society organizations and experts from 99 countries across the globe signed an open letter urging the states that have ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to adopt a Resolution at the 10th UNCAC Conference of States Parties (CoSP 10) taking place next month in Atlanta, United States.
301 civil society organizations and experts from 99 countries across the globe signed an open letter urging the states that have ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to adopt a Resolution at the 10th UNCAC Conference of States Parties (CoSP 10) taking place next month in Atlanta, United States.
Today, the Wildlife Justice Commission published a new report on the convergence of wildlife crime with other forms of organised crime: Convergence of wildlife crime with other forms of organised crime: A 2023 Review.
This report builds on our first crime convergence report, published in 2021, which analysed a set of 12 case studies, and illustrated the varied ways that wildlife crime can overlap or intersect with other serious and organised crimes.
In a joint intelligence-led operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Special Wildlife Office and the Enforcement Team has arrested Mr Felix Maiva on 28 September. Mr Maiva was arrested in connection with the January 2021 seizure of illegal wildlife products from Apapa Port, Nigeria, which was bound for Haiphong, Vietnam.
The Wildlife Justice Commission is pleased to announce that is is expanding its global reach by establishing a presence in the United States of America. This expansion aims to further our mission of disrupting and helping to dismantle the transnational criminal networks trading in wildlife, timber, and fish.
The Wildlife Justice Commission expands its global reach and international presence Read more »
News
As we approach World Rhino Day tomorrow, I would like to highlight the threat to rhinos from transnational organised criminal networks and to recognise the progress that has been made in the fight against rhino horn trafficking over the past few years. While rhinos still face a number of threats, there is hope on the horizon.
World Rhino Day: Making Headway in the Fight Against Rhino Horn Trafficking Read more »
News Wildlife Crimes News
Teo Boon Ching, one of the largest wildlife traffickers operating across the world, has been convicted of wildlife trafficking in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
Today, the BBC has published a special report highlighting the work of the Wildlife Justice Commission in Nigeria and the successes it has achieved in disrupting the trafficking of wildlife from the country, in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). The report features an interview with the Wildlife Justice Commission’s Director of Programs Steve Carmody and Van, one of our female undercovers.
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.
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.
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.
Since the creation of the Wildlife Justice Commission in 2015, a constant that has been observed in all intelligence-led investigations into wildlife trafficking across the globe is the role of corruption in enabling this form of organised crime. 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 sheds light on the key role of corruption in enabling wildlife crime Read more »
News
We are excited to announce three new partnerships with respected funders, who share the Wildlife Justice Commission’s vision of a world without wildlife crime. Joining our list of partners are the UK Government, through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, the Swedish Postcode Foundation, and the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Global.
The Wildlife Justice Commission delivered the last of three targeted capacity-building courses, focusing on strengthening intelligence gathering and cybercrime investigations to the Sabah Wildlife Department and Sabah Forestry Departments in Malaysia.
To mark the registration and in-country presence of the Wildlife Justice Commission in Thailand, we hosted, today, a launch event at the Residence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Thailand in Bangkok.
The Wildlife Justice Commission organised a hybrid event, focusing on promoting the effective use of the provisions under the UNTOC and UNCAC on joint investigations and special investigative techniques to address environmental crimes and the corruption that enables them, on the sidelines of the 32nd Session of the CCPCJ.
2022 was our most successful year since our founding in 2015. Our intelligence-led approach allowed us to secure major arrests in, amongst others, Nigeria, Mozambique and Thailand, to deepen our understanding of the criminal dynamics, and to share our expertise with law enforcement, policy makers, and practitioners across the globe.
The Wildlife Justice Commission publishes 2022 Annual Report Read more »
News
This month marks our 8th anniversary. A good moment to reflect on how it all started in 2015: five staff members, one donor, two cases and an ambitious strategy to hold governments accountable for failing to address wildlife crime occurring in their own countries, through the mechanism of a Public Hearing in the City of Peace and Justice, The Hague.
Reflecting on 8 years of the Wildlife Justice Commission Read more »
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