Kenya’s efforts to fight wildlife poaching
have received a boost with Interpol, the
international police force, pledging help.
This was announced on Wednesday at a
function in Nairobi where Interpol held
the first high-level compliance and
enforcement meeting with the United
Nations Environmental Programme
(UNEP).
“The fight against wildlife crime requires a
collective role played by different players
to help build the foundations and
frameworks for international
conventions,” UNEP Executive Director
Achim Steiner said at the event held at
the UN complex.
Steiner added that the international
community was worried with the sharp
rise in the poaching of elephants and
rhino in Africa and was working towards
“a less crime-ridden and more just
world.”
Interpol comes in to support the efforts
by UNEP in developing legislation, norms
and standards and enforcement capacity
to try and arrest a rapidly escalating
environmental crime.
According to Interpol wildlife crime is
estimated to be worth US$15-20 billion
annually, ranking as the fourth largest
global illegal trade after illegal drugs,
human trafficking and trade in illegal
arms.
Travel documents
Steiner emphasised the need to focus on
the rule of enforcement in fighting the
crime, saying the rule of law was the
foundation.
Interpol Executive Director Jean-Michel
Louboutin said they would provide a
global system of communication to
countries and will also help in identifying
crime and criminals through global
databases.
He noted that it was known that criminals
use false identities and that the stolen
and lost travel documents database
containing millions of documents would
assist countries in arresting criminals.
“We will provide the ability to our
member states to access the database. It
is important to also note that we work 24
hours a day and seven days a week,” said
Mr Louboutin.