South Asia: Boosting law enforcement capacities to combat wildlife crime

Nagarkot, Nepal/17 January 2025: Wildlife crime, driven by organized criminal networks, requires multi-tiered law enforcement strategies. Organized criminal syndicates involved in wildlife trafficking frequently rely on illicit financial networks, making it crucial for law enforcement to target both the criminal activities and the financial infrastructure enabling them.

Recognizing this, the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment (GPCAE) equips law enforcement officers with the tools needed to disrupt wildlife crime at its core. In January, a set of advanced capacity-building trainings in Nepal empowered law enforcement officers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka with the skills needed to investigate financial flows linked to wildlife and forest crimes. The officials from these countries had earlier undertaken basic-level trainings held in 2024.

In Nagarkot, a group of seven officials from the Bangladesh Forest Department, Customs, and Police received a three-day basic introductory training, featuring case studies, practical exercises and in-depth discussions on legal frameworks.

This was their first exposure to financial crime investigations in the environmental sector, with emphasis on the supply chain of wildlife and forest crime and investigation methodologies. Participants shared how the hands-on approach made complex financial tracking methods easier to grasp, boosting their confidence in applying these skills in real-world cases.

Another training brought together 23 officials from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for an advanced program focused on sophisticated financial investigation techniques, including asset tracking, complex beneficial ownership structures, evidence matrix and strategies for freezing and recovering criminal proceeds.

The training also fostered cross-border cooperation, enabling officials from different countries to share experiences and strengthen regional collaboration in combating wildlife crime.

“The training was very useful and in an easily receivable [sic] format,” said Mr. S. Patwary, Director, Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Bangladesh.

“We have not had comprehensive financial investigation related to wildlife crime in Sri Lanka. These trainings are very important for Sri Lanka and should be given to more prosecutors, customs and wildlife departments and also to FIU,” said Ms. L Karunanayake, Senior Deputy Solicitor General, Sri Lanka.

The focus of these trainings was to develop a core group of officials who are skilled on supporting financial investigations related to wildlife and forest crime. As they return to their respective countries, their strengthened capacities are expected to contribute to more effective investigations, greater accountability, and a stronger legal response to wildlife crime.

This activity contributed to SDG 15, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs)