Strengthening Financial Crime Investigation Techniques Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

The Central African Republic is taking steps to bolster its public sector capacity and private sector engagement to combat the illegal wildlife trade, a significant financial crime threat in West and Central Africa.

Improving Knowledge of and Capacity to Disrupt Illicit Financial Flows

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is leading a new project that aims to improve knowledge of and capacity to disrupt illicit financial flows related to the illegal wildlife trade. The initiative builds on previous research conducted by RUSI into anti-money laundering and financial crime responses to the illegal wildlife trade in West and Central Africa.

A Major Hub for Illegal Wildlife Trade

Since 2015, West and Central Africa have emerged as a major hub for the global illegal wildlife trade, with Nigeria becoming the top global export point for elephant ivory and pangolin scales. The region’s biodiversity hotspots are also a source of illegally exported wildlife products.

Establishing a West Africa Chapter of United for Wildlife Financial and Transport Taskforces

RUSI’s project aims to establish a West Africa Chapter of the United for Wildlife Financial and Transport Taskforces, a network of private, public, and third-sector partners working together to combat the illegal wildlife trade. The chapter will focus on enhancing institutional capabilities in Central African Republic and Nigeria.

Enhancing Institutional Capabilities

The project will also focus on enhancing the institutional capabilities of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and other relevant authorities in combating wildlife-related illicit financial flows. RUSI will deliver an in-depth strategic assessment of regional and national capacity to address wildlife-linked illicit financial flows in Central Africa via a publicly available report.

Outputs

The project aims to produce the following outputs:

• Establishment of the West Africa Chapter of the United for Wildlife Financial and Transport Taskforces
• Enhanced institutional capabilities in Nigeria
• A strategic assessment report on Central African Republic’s capacity to address wildlife-linked illicit financial flows

Conclusion

The project will conclude by mid-decade, with a focus on improving the effectiveness of anti-money laundering and financial crime responses to the illegal wildlife trade. The initiative aims to encourage innovative financial approaches in wildlife crime investigations, increase inter-agency and cross-sector cooperation, and ensure that the adoption of this approach becomes commonplace.

Key Takeaways

• West African FIUs have identified a need for greater training, knowledge, and financial resources to pursue IWT cases as a predicate offence for money laundering.
• The project aims to address these capacity gaps and improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks.