elephant tusks seizure shows importance of UK wildlife crime police

The UK’s world-renowned Border Force team have made 178 seizures at ports and airports of thousands of wildlife products regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – in just one month. These included elephant tusks and other ivory items, reptile skin products and even crocodile blood! This was all part of the international ‘Operation Thunder’ which also resulted in the seizure of heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

The operation once again showed the vital work of our UK wildlife crime teams such as Border Force working with international partners from INTERPOL to World Customs Organisation (WCO) and many others. The global operation ran from September 14th to October 11th and resulted in 1.3 tonnes of ivory, more than a tonne of pangolin scales, 1,400 live turtles ad 1,800 reptiles being seized. We are so lucky in the UK to have Border Force, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) and teams up and down the country that tackle the illegal trade of wildlife, which endangers and exploits animals all around the world.

It is important that we recognise the importance and scale of work undertaken by groups such as these, especially at a time when Government resources are stretched thin and the UK Government completes its spending review on November 25. It is vital that we secure the long-term future of the NWCU which is yet again having to beg for its survival. It’s time the UK Government once and for all secured the unit’s long-term future so that it can get on with the job of tackling wildlife crime both in the UK and abroad.

This recent operation shows the amazing work being carried out by our dedicated wildlife crime police teams up and down the country. Unfortunately the UK finds itself used as a transit hub by global wildlife crime networks, which is why we need to properly fund teams such as Border Force and the NWCU so they can continue to tackle this dangerous trade. As the UK has left the EU and now starts to develop renewed trading relationships around the world, it is imperative that we invest in these resources so that wildlife criminals do not see the UK as a soft touch.

Also this week we have seen the release of Wildlife and Countryside Link’s latest report on wildlife crime across England and Wales. The report shows that despite positive progress in identifying and tackling hi-tech online criminals who are harming our wildlife, centuries old hunting, trapping, and poisoning practices, and smuggling of illegal wildlife goods, are still widespread, and having a seriously negative impact on our wild animals. It is yet more evidence that only a relatively small number of wildlife criminals are convicted each year despite thousands of animals being hurt or killed. IFAW was part of the production of this report and we are now calling for more effective recording of offences and more resources from the Home Office and Defra to end wildlife crime.

IFAW has been proud to work closely with enforcers in the UK and internationally for many years as a vital component of our mission to save individual animals and protect whole populations. Joint work has included training of police and customs officials, working together to reduce cyber-enabled wildlife crime and ultimately to prevent poaching before it happens. We will continue to do what we can to support the amazing work being done to protect wild animals across the world.

Our fantastic wildlife crime police teams need to have all the tools possible at their disposal to keep both us and our wildlife and endangered animals safe. We cannot have a system where products can be shipped into freeports post-Brexit free of scrutiny. So it’s time the UK Government and all the devolved institutions across our country put their money where their mouths are and finally invest in our wildlife crime enforcers.