About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (July 27, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdbbn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E~$~ & July 27, 2020 Wildlife Trafficking: International Law Enforcement Responses Congress has sought to implement law enforcement approaches to wildlife trafficking by appropriating funds for and conducting oversight of relevant foreign aid programs and for U.S. and foreign law enforcement capabilities. U.S. policy tools to target wildlife traffickers include measures to increase dedicated law enforcement personnel, provide equipment and trainings to foreign countries, designate traffickers as ineligible for U.S. entry, freeze traffickers' assets, and offer financial rewards for information leading to their arrest. Debates exist regarding the efficacy of law enforcement approaches, the appropriate number of law enforcement officials, and the extent to which individuals at different levels of trafficking operations are targeted by law enforcement. Wildlife trafficking (i.e., illegal transactions of wildlife), holds potentially significant implications for U.S. efforts to address conservation and the rule of law. Conservative estimates of the value of the trade in endangered species alone vary from $7 billion to over $20 billion annually. The addition of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and of illegal logging could exponentially increase these estimates. High profits and often-lax law enforcement have motivated transnational criminal syndicates to engage in the trade. Consumers may be driven by local subsistence needs (e.g., consumption of bushmeat), traditional medicine practices, or a desire for luxury goods. Wildlife trafficking may involve global supply chains and include local poachers, regional middlemen, online retailers, and corrupt officials. In contrast with efforts to reduce consumer demand or to increase the size of protected natural areas, law enforcement focuses on disrupting, investigating, prosecuting, and deterring criminal actors. The U.S. body of laws on wildlife crime originated with the Lacey Act of 1900 (16 U.S.C. §§3371-3378 and 18 U.S.C. §§42-43) and has expanded in scope through the Pelly Amendment to the Fisherman's Protective Act of 1967 (P.L. 92-219), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205), and other laws. Recent U.S. Administrations have identified wildlife trafficking as a transnational organized crime threat. In 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13648, which established a Presidential Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking (the Task Force) The Task Force issued a National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking (the National Strategy) in 2014, which advocated strengthening enforcement of laws as a strategic priority. The Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-231) established the Obama-era Task Force in law and directed the Secretary of State to submit to Congress an annual report that includes updates on the National Strategy, and identifies countries with significant levels of wildlife trafficking. In 2017, President Trump issued E.O. 13773, which called for the dismantling of groups involved in transnational crime, including wildlife trafficking, and required quarterly reports on related convictions. S~k~ctedU., Age~ncy y o- The Department of State leads U.S. efforts to support international actions to combat wildlife trafficking. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) in particular focuses on supporting foreign countries' anti-trafficking legislation, investigative and prosecutorial capacity, and regional cooperation. INL administers funds for foreign aid programs, which are implemented by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other third parties, and manages five International Law Enforcement Academies, which include anti-wildlife trafficking trainings conducted by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) personnel. In 2013, Congress passed legislation that expanded a State Department rewards program to include cases of transnational crime (P.L. 112-283). Managed by INL, the program has sought information relating to at least one wildlife trafficking network: the Laos-based Xaysavang Network. INL works with other bureaus within the State Department, notably the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, on additional anti-wildlife trafficking efforts. Since FY2008, Congress has enacted annual appropriations measures requiring the Secretary of State to prevent individuals who are credibly suspected of significant corruption from entering the United States, known as Section 7031(c) designations. To date, there has been one public designation for wildlife trafficking-related corruption, concerning a Cameroonian state official. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) administers foreign assistance projects aimed at reducing poaching and wildlife trafficking through regional programs as well as programs administered by the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education, and Environment. Some recent USAID projects have focused on improving forensic science capacity and collaboration between law enforcement and transportation personnel. FWS, an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), retains authority to inspect wildlife shipments entering the United States through the efforts of special agents and wildlife inspectors stationed at certain U.S. points of entry. A select number (eight as of January 2020) of special agent attach6s are stationed at U.S. missions abroad. Congress has also directed USAID to transfer to FWS some funds provided for foreign conservation programs with a component focused on park rangers notably the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment. FWS also conducts investigations and offers K~:> p\w -- , gn'a', goo mppm qq\ a , q 'S I 11LIANJILiN,

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most