Fighting wildlife crime is focus of working group meeting in Tanzania

The meeting brings together 50 law enforcement officials from 33 INTERPOL member countries and representatives of 14 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to discuss how they can better protect the world’s natural resources.

Participants will hear updates on the working group’s current initiatives, including the Eco-Message standardised form which facilitates the exchange and analysis of information on important seizures of rare, endangered or illegally traded plants and animal s among INTERPOL’s 186 member countries.

Other agenda items will look at the links between trafficking and organized crime and terrorism, the role corruption plays in the illegal wildlife trade, and capacity building for prosecutors and forensic investigators.

For the first time – in an effort to enhance collaboration between law enforcement and NGOs – one day of the four-day meeting will be open to representatives of NGOs to deliver presentations on topics such as rhinoceros horn trafficking and the illegal ivory trade.

The meeting will be conducted in English and French for the first time to encourage participation from French-speaking countries in Africa.