Southeast Asian states discuss working details for network against wildlife smuggling

Photo: Southeast Asian states discuss working details for network against wildlife smuggling

The Wildlife Enforcement Network - WEN - was launched in December last year by the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to help national police and other concerned agencies coordinate their work against wildlife smugglers.

The illegal wildlife trade is the third largest black market in the world after drugs and arms, according to Suvat Singhapant, deputy permanent secretary of Thailand's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

"ASEAN-WEN will be our region's weapon against wildlife criminals who network across our borders," he was quoted saying in a Thai government news release.

ASEAN representatives on Thursday concluded a two-day meeting in the Thai capital Bangkok to help harmonize methods for countering animal smuggling.

Southeast Asia is a focal point for the illicit business because of its rich biodiversity, extensive transportation systems and weak regulatory system.

WildAid and Traffic Southeast Asia, a wildlife trade monitoring network, in August will begin training police and customs officials in Thailand and the Philippines by teaching them to identify species of flora and fauna.

The international police agency Interpol, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and China have all provided information to ASEAN members about linkages between wildlife smuggling and other illicit activities, such as drug trafficking, which are operated by sophisticated international crime syndicates.