31 January 2023
The Wildlife Justice Commission is a proud partner of Project Anton, a public-private partnership launched to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, led by Canada’s Scotiabank, and supported by United for Wildlife.
Today, as part of Project Anton, Canada’s financial intelligence unit FINTRAC published a new Operational Alert, Laundering the Proceeds of Crime from Illegal Wildlife Trade. The alert was developed to help businesses subject to Canada’s Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act better identify and report financial transactions linked to the laundering of illegal wildlife trade proceeds.
The Wildlife Justice Commission contributed input and expertise to the alert as part of our ongoing work with Project Anton. Its publication is a significant step toward generating actionable financial intelligence to support law enforcement investigations into this crime, in Canada and abroad.
The Operational Alert, informed by strategic analysis of suspicious transaction reporting alongside domestic and international research, identifies financial patterns and laundering techniques associated with illegal wildlife trade. These include suspected wildlife imports into Canada, exports, and the use of nominees, front companies, and layered transfers between related accounts.
Project Anton is named in honour of Anton Mzimba, Head of Security at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, who was murdered in 2022 for his commitment to protecting wildlife. The partnership brings together the Wildlife Justice Commission, Scotiabank, The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife network, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC’s Fintel Alliance in Australia, the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force, the UK Financial Intelligence Unit, Western Union, and other government, law enforcement, and civil society organisations with expertise in combating illegal wildlife trade.
By helping reporting entities recognise financial transactions and high-risk factors linked to illegal wildlife trade, the Operational Alert supports efforts to follow the money and identify the individuals and criminal networks behind this crime, ultimately strengthening investigations and prosecutions in Canada and around the world.
