Scroll through social media and you find the images everywhere: influencers cuddling tiger cubs, baby monkeys dressed in clothes, colourful talking birds perched on shoulders, and reptiles being presented as exotic pets.
The Cost of Cute: What lies behind the illegal pet trade. Read more »
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Today, Wildlife Justice is publishing From inception to impact: 10 years of Wildlife Justice, reporting on a decade of investigations, law enforcement partnerships, and policy engagement to disrupt the organised criminal networks driving wildlife trafficking.
From inception to impact: New report charts 10 years of Wildlife Justice Read more »
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As governments, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) prepare to meet at the Thirty-Fifth Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna next week , the Wildlife Justice Commission calls for greater attention to financial investigations.
Wildlife trafficking remains one of the most pervasive drivers of biodiversity loss, pushing endangered species closer to extinction while undermining ecosystems, communities, and economies.
Fighting wildlife trafficking requires persistence Read more »
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The Wildlife Justice Commission today welcomed the convictions by a Vietnamese court of two wildlife traffickers caught in possession of nearly one tonne of African pangolin scales.
Wildlife Justice Commission applauds conviction of Vietnamese pangolin scale traffickers Read more »
Media releases News
A suspected wildlife trafficking kingpin, Shamsideen Abubakar, has been arrested in Nigeria following a joint operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Wildlife Justice Commission.
Over the past month, the Wildlife Justice Commission has continued to support targeted law enforcement operations to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks and protect vulnerable species.
One arrest at a time: Targeting the criminal networks behind wildlife trafficking Read more »
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The world came to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to learn from Nigeria’s experience. The occasion was CITES CoP20, the once-every-three-years global conference where governments decide how to protect endangered species by regulating international wildlife trade.
From transit hub to global model: How Nigeria gave pangolins a fighting chance Read more »
Investigations News
On 3 March 2026, an operation unfolded in southern Madagascar that would strike at the heart of an international wildlife trafficking network. Acting on intelligence provided by Wildlife Justice Commission investigators.
This month brings encouraging signs of progress in the global fight against wildlife crime. From operational successes with our law enforcement partners in Madagascar, to expanding our work into timber trafficking, to advancing international policy discussions.
Targeting wildlife crime: Progress and partnerships Read more »
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The Wildlife Justice Commission today launches Fighting Wildlife Crime: A Decade of Impact, a dynamic new multimedia web feature marking ten years of disrupting transnational organised crime and protecting endangered species.
As 2026 begins, so does our second decade of fighting wildlife trafficking. We thank you for standing with the Wildlife Justice Commission and supporting our work. Please read on to learn how we helped rescue four baby orangutans and a tiger cub—while also leading international efforts to fight the corruption that fuels wildlife crime.
Embarking on a new decade Read more »
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Four young orangutans have been saved from the illegal wildlife trade through the work of the Wildlife Justice Commission, in close partnership with Thai law enforcement authorities. Rescued in Thailand in 2025, they have now been safely repatriated to Indonesia, where they will undergo rehabilitation before, one day, being returned to the wild.
At the 11th session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11), held in Doha, Qatar from 15 to 19 December, over 190 States Parties convened to agree on policy priorities guiding national implementation of the UNCAC – the world’s only comprehensive and legally binding anti-corruption treaty.
Fighting corruption – and wildlife trafficking – at UNCAC CoSP11 Read more »
News Political Will
Every year, as I prepare to write this end-of-year reflection, I find myself returning to the same feeling: deep pride in the impact the Wildlife Justice Commission has achieved, and deep gratitude for all those who stand with us. But this year is different. This year marks our 10th anniversary.
A decade of impact: Wildlife Justice celebrates 10 years of fighting wildlife crime Read more »
Investigations News
As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect on a year that showcased both the urgency of our work and the effectiveness of our model. From disrupting criminal networks and taking down kingpins of wildlife crime to advancing global policy and expanding our marine investigations, the Wildlife Justice Commission strengthened its impact across every part of its mission.
A year of impact: Highlights from 2025 Read more »
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The Wildlife Justice Commission’s new documentary Seizure has drawn significant global attention following its premiere on 9 December on the Wildlife Justice YouTube channel. The award-winning short film provides a rare look into the inner workings of transnational organised crime networks involved in the trafficking of endangered species – one of the largest and most profitable forms of transnational organised crime.
The Wildlife Justice Commission brought real-world evidence and insights from its investigations directly to governments and decision-makers recently at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Wildlife Justice Commission will premiere its acclaimed short documentary Seizure on its official YouTube channel on 9 December 2025 at 19:00 CET. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Matt Durrant, the film offers a rare and gripping look into the hidden world of wildlife trafficking — one of the most profitable forms of transnational organised crime, and one that threatens species with extinction.
Wildlife Justice Commission to premiere ‘Seizure’ on 9 December Read more »
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‘Seizure’, a powerful new documentary short film offering an undercover look at the fight against wildlife trafficking, will premiere 9 Dec. 2025 at 19:00 CET on the Wildlife Justice Commission’s YouTube channel.
Award-Winning ‘Seizure’ Debuts 9 December Read more »
News Seizure
This month brought significant progress in our mission to dismantle the criminal networks driving wildlife trafficking. From major convictions in Nigeria, to operational successes in India, to global action at CITES CoP20 and the United for Wildlife Global Summit, the momentum for stronger enforcement and international cooperation is growing—and the Wildlife Justice Commission is playing a central role in driving that change.
One year ago, a Qatar Airways plane took off from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport carrying an unusual cargo: hundreds of live turtles, tortoises, and lemurs, stolen from Madagascar’s forests and trafficked to Thailand. The “lemur flight” was repatriating these survivors of wildlife crime, returning them to the wild, to their home in Madagascar.
Lessons from the “Lemur Flight” Read more »
Investigations News
‘Seizure’, a powerful new documentary short film offering an undercover look at the fight against wildlife trafficking, will premiere 9 Dec. 2025 at 19:00 CET on the Wildlife Justice Commission YouTube channel.
‘Seizure’ goes undercover in the world of wildlife trafficking Read more »
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As the Wildlife Justice Commission continues to disrupt transnational criminal networks and protect endangered species, our recent work underscores the power of collaboration — from global policy discussions to intelligence-led enforcement in the field.
Protecting wildlife: From global forums to field impact Read more »
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The latest updates from the Wildlife Justice Commission as we advance our mission of disrupting transnational wildlife trafficking. From briefing the UK Parliament to expanding cooperation in Nigeria, our recent work underscores the urgency of collective action to prevent species extinction.
Disrupting wildlife trafficking: Policy, partnerships, and action Read more »
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The Wildlife Justice Commission today published a new report examining whether wildlife trafficking is treated with the seriousness it deserves in national legal systems.
The report provides an assessment of how the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) has been incorporated into domestic legislation, and how effectively it is being implemented to tackle wildlife trafficking.
Rhinos are running out of time. Once they roamed Africa in their hundreds of thousands; today, their survival is measured in the thousands. In the case of the northern white rhino, only two remain—both living under armed guard. Rhinos are threatened by relentless poaching for their horns, fuelling a multibillion-dollar illegal trade orchestrated by transnational criminal networks.
Wildlife trafficking remains one of the most urgent threats to biodiversity today. Across continents, it undermines governance, fuels corruption, and drives species closer to extinction. While many species are trafficked, few are as prominent—or as endangered—as rhinos. Rhino horn trafficking is a form of organised crime, with sophisticated transnational networks linking poaching in Africa to consumer markets in Asia.
Rhino horn trafficking today: Intelligence insights and emerging trends Read more »
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The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) and Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen Nigeria’s response to organised wildlife crime.
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 »
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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
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.
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 »
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 »
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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 »
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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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