Interpol - Recent adds and updates
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Environmental crime News
This section provides a round-up of news stories related to Environmental crime, both from INTERPOL and from other sources around the world.
Disclaimer: Please note that views and opinions expressed on external websites do not necessarily represent the views of INTERPOL or its employees.
24/12/2008 - Northern Ireland High levels of river pollution
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More than 200 rivers in Northern Ireland are officially classified as being polluted beyond an acceptable standard, according to figures for 2005-07, released by the Environment Agency.
External link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7798536.stm |
22/12/2008 - Malaysia National plan to double wild tiger population |
Conservation groups and the government have set an ambitious target of expanding the tiger population from 500 to around 1,000 over the next 12 years. Numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades because of illegal hunting.
External link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7795944.stm |
23/12/2008 - USA ExxonMobil charged over oil spill
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The ExxonMobil Pipeline Company has been charged with violation of the Clean Water Act, in connection with the leaking of 15,000 gallons of diesel oil into the Mystic River, Massachusetts. The company is expected to pay more than USD 6 million for the incident which took place in January 2006.
External link: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/December/08-enrd-1147.html |
19/12/2008 - Australia Organized crime networks trade illegal wildlife online
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A study published by researchers at the University of Canberra shows the internet has become the tool of choice for illegal trade in wildlife. The report identifies strong links with organized crime groups and calls for increased routine surveillance of the web to detect wildlife crime.
External link: http://www.canberra.edu.au/media-centre/releases/current/december-2008/19_wildlife |
18/12/2008 - Thailand Authorities in Southeast Asia step up the fight against wildlife crime |
 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) has increased its commitment and capacity to fighting wildlife crime. Since mid-July 2008, authorities have made more than one hundred arrests and rescued more than 24,000 protected animals.
External link: http://www.asean-wen.org |
10/12/2008 - USA Launch of Environmental crimes fugitive website
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A new website enables the public as well as law enforcement agencies to help track down people accused of violating environmental laws and evading arrest. Created by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the website includes photos of each fugitive and information on their last known whereabouts.
External link: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/C159E578522342838525751B0054B25E
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03/12/2008 - USA Six people arrested for smuggling African elephant ivory
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Six defendants will stand trial for conspiring to smuggle ivory from Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Uganda into the United States. The ivory was disguised as wooden ornaments and musical instruments in an attempt to avoid detection. Illegal trade in African elephant ivory is the major cause of the continuing decline of elephant populations in Africa.
External link: http://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2008/pdf/IvorysmuggPR120308.pdf |
07/11/2008 - Ghana EU agreement to tighten timber export controls |
The Ghanaian government and the European Union have signed an agreement to crack down on illegal logging. The Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) will help ensure that timber is properly licensed at every stage of the export process. It is estimated that up to 80 percent of Ghanas forests have been destroyed by illegal logging, with most illegal timber exports destined for Europe.
External link: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81361 |
10/12/2008 - Australia Customs officers uncover squirrel smuggling attempt |
Customs investigators have executed search and seizure warrants on two residential addresses at Harbord on Sydney's northern beaches following the interception of a live squirrel in a mail package from overseas.
External link: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=11108 |
05/12/2008 - USA Caviar dealer convicted in international smuggling operation |
A federal jury in Miami has convicted two people on charges of conspiracy, false labelling of export shipments, and the illegal export of internationally protected fish roe (eggs).
External link: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls/PressReleases/081205-01.html |
28/11/2008 - China – Environmental police force formed |
A special police force has been set up in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, to support public security and environmental protection bureaus in the region. The move to create the 60-strong police force follows an arsenic pollution incident at Yangzong Lake.
External link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/6542308.html |
27/11/2008 - Corse Peine amende record pour un dιgazage en mer |
| Dans une affaire de rejets d'hydrocarbures survenue en avril 2007, à l'ouest des îles Sanguinaires, le Tribunal correctionnel de Marseille a prononcé en première instance une peine amende record de 750 000 euros (720 000 pour l'armateur, 30 000 pour le capitaine).
Lien externe : http://www.corsematin.com/ra/corse/159517/peine-amende-record-pour-un-degazage-en-mer |
12/11/2008 - Russia Police seize rare falcons |
Two men have been detained in Kamchatka (far eastern Russian) after police discovered 38 gyrfalcons tied up in a truck. The gyrfalcon is an endangered species and the birds would probably have been smuggled to the Middle East to be used for traditional hunting.
External link: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/1010/42/372308.htm
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07/11/2008 - Southern Africa Ivory auctions raise more than $15 million for elephant conservation |
Recent sales of legally obtained ivory in four Southern African countries will provide a financial boost for elephant conservation programmes. The auctions were organized by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
External link: http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-07-voa55.cfm
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08/09/2008 - 6th Environmental crimes Conference |
LYON, France – INTERPOL is hosting its 6th Environmental crimes Conference and associated working groups on wildlife and pollution crime.
The Conference is to be held at the General Secretariat in Lyon, France between 13 and 17 October 2008.
Environmental crime – a growing concern
Established in 1992, INTERPOL's Environmental crimes Committee has grown steadily in both representation and mission, reflecting the increasing extent and impact of Environmental crime. The Committee is now supported by the active participation of over 50 countries from every region of the world and is comprised of two working groups, dealing with wildlife and pollution crime respectively.
Sharing cross-sector expertise
The first day of the conference will be an open meeting, allowing stakeholders to share ideas and strategies for dealing with the growing phenomenon of Environmental crime.
The open stakeholders meeting will be attended by NGOs, academics, and other non-government professionals along with dedicated environmental law enforcement officers from countries all over the world. It offers a rare opportunity for these key players to formulate strategies for successfully investigating and prosecuting Environmental crimes.
Discussion topics
It is expected that the stakeholders meeting will represent a broad spectrum of environmental enforcement concerns, ranging from wildlife, pollution and habitat enforcement, including oceans and forests, to the emerging climate change issues.
The remainder of the conference is designed to allow environmental law enforcement officers the opportunity to discuss and explore compliance and enforcement initiatives. |
29/08/2008 - INTERPOL has appointed a new Criminal Intelligence Officer for Wildlife Crime. |
This position brings INTERPOL’s staffing level to two Officers responsible for Wildlife Crime. INTERPOL began to fight Environmental crime in 1992, and its program has grown significantly since. The program is continuing to expand its activities in co-operation with many national, international and non-governmental agencies. INTERPOL will be hosting the 6th Environmental crime Conference between 13 and 17 October 2008.
David Higgins will fill the new position in Wildlife Crime from 18 August 2008. David comes from Australia where he worked for the Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as an Assistant Director of Compliance and Enforcement. He has also worked in Cambodia as an Environmental Law Enforcement Advisor and in Tasmania, Australia as a Wildlife Ranger and Police Officer.
Peter Younger, who has been managing the existing program since 2006, has moved to focus particularly on Wildlife Crime in Africa as part of INTERPOL’s Project OASIS. Project OASIS’s aims and objectives are to develop the capacity of law enforcement agencies within the Continent of Africa, by supporting training, Intelligence sharing and Network enhancement.
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03/04/2008 - Co-operation between Serbia and Croatia resulted in 30-day prison for turtle smuggler |
 On May 15, 2005, at the border crossing between Serbia and Croatia, Croatian Customs Service, with the assistance of a Croatian senior Environmental Inspector, found 504 Testudo Hermani turtles. The turtles were found in a passenger car belonging to a Serbian citizen, where they were placed in linen bags on the car floor. The smuggler said that he had collected them in the surroundings of Svilajnac and that he planned to release them in the yard of his house in Germany.
The species in question is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and exportation requires a permit from the Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection. No such permit was issued, and the Croatian Environmental Inspector therefore confiscated the turtles and transported them to the state animal asylum in Ruscica, Croatia.
On May 18, 2005, the turtles were returned to their country of origin (Serbia) in accordance with the CITES regulations. The Serbian Environmental Inspectorate brought criminal charges against the smuggler for attempting to illegally export the turtles, resulting in a 30-day prison sentence, with a suspended sentence of one year. |
03/01/2008 - United States – Chinese national pleads guilty to smuggling protected sea turtles. |
Wang Hong, a Chinese national, admitted shipping Hawksbill sea turtle products from China to undercover agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sentencing is set for Feb. 19, 2008. The sentencing range is 6-12 months of imprisonment and a fine of $2,000-$20,000, based on the statutory and advisory sentencing guideline factors. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Robert S. Anderson who also serves as Secretary of the INTERPOL Wildlife Group
External link: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_enrd_004.html |
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