A recent study conducted by Michelle Anagnostou during her PhD program at the University of Waterloo has revealed strong links between the illegal wildlife trade and other organized criminal activities, such as arms dealing, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. Anagnostou highlighted a significant lack of understanding regarding the vast financial transactions associated with this illicit trade, which generates billions of dollars annually.
She emphasized the need to target higher-level individuals profiting from wildlife and human exploitation, rather than solely focusing on apprehending lower-tier offenders like poachers and smugglers. Wildlife trafficking, which involves the illegal trade and exploitation of animals and plants, has far-reaching societal impacts on a global scale, as outlined in the study.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is dedicated to identifying and disrupting major criminal threats, including those posed by organized crime networks involved in trafficking various commodities, including wildlife. The RCMP collaborates with domestic and international partners to combat the illegal wildlife trade and investigate criminal groups laundering proceeds from their illicit activities.
Brent Doberstein, a professor at the University of Waterloo, commended Anagnostou’s research for its potential to inform policy measures aimed at combating illegal wildlife trade. Anagnostou’s study, which utilized innovative data collection techniques and insights from law enforcement and intelligence professionals, is set to explore anti-money laundering strategies to combat wildlife trafficking in Canada further.
The study’s next phase will focus on implementing effective measures to track financial transactions and target high-level criminal offenders profiting from wildlife exploitation. Anagnostou’s research aims to leverage financial institutions and intelligence units to disrupt the financial networks fueling this criminal activity and bring the masterminds behind illegal wildlife trade to justice.
