Cross-border poaching on the rise

THE rhino horn is fetching as much as $70 000 per kilogramme on the illegal market amid revelations that there is an upsurge of cross-border poaching activities.
In this light, the world has witnessed an upsurge in poaching of endangered species like the rhinos, tigers, falcons as well as poaching of timber, fish and dumping of hazardous substances. In his presentation at the on-going three-day Green Customs Initiative (GCI) workshop in Victoria Falls on Tuesday, United Nations Environment Programme division of technology, industry and economics, Ozon-Action branch Dr Ezra Clark said global environmental criminals were characterised by organised networks, porous borders, money laundering, corruption and exploitation of disadvantaged communities.
"A significant proportion of both wildlife crime and pollution crime point to the involvement of organised crime networks, detailed planning of operations, substantial financial support, the careful management of international shipments and massive profits," he said.
Dr Clark said there were at least 8,5 million tonnes of hazardous waste being moved between countries each year. He said estimates for the scale of the illegal trade in wildlife ranged from $5 billion to $20 billion per annum.
"Shahtoosh shawls made from Tibetan antelope wool cost $35 000 on the illegal market while the rhinoceros horn costs $70 000 per kilogramme. Endangered falcons attract about $200 000 and caviar costs $4 000 per 250 grammes," said Dr Clark.
"There is clear evidence that environmental criminals engage in other major areas of crime such as document and passport fraud, corruption, the possession and use of illegal weapons, murder, and other smuggling issues notably in drugs, firearms and people," said Dr Clark.
He said GCI was a partnership of international organisations working on preventing the illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities.
"Its objective is to enhance the capacity of customs and other relevant enforcement personnel to monitor and facilitate the legal trade and to detect and prevent illegal trade in environmentally-sensitive commodities covered by the relevant conventions and multi-lateral environmental agreements. 
These include ozone depleting substances, toxic chemical products, hazardous wastes, endangered species and living-modified organisms," said Dr Clark.
"This is achieved through awareness-raising on all the relevant international agreements as well as provision of assistance and tools to the enforcement community. Green Customs is designed to complement and enhance existing customs training efforts under the respective agreements."