The illegal trade in wild animals, plants, or their parts and derivatives, including poached ivory, rhino horn, exotic pets and traditional medicine ingredients, in violation of national wildlife protection laws or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is a lucrative form of transnational organized crime, generating substantial illicit profit while contributing directly to the population decline and, in some cases, the extinction risk of the species involved. Enforcement typically involves customs and border agencies working alongside specialized wildlife crime units and international bodies such as INTERPOL's Environmental Crime Programme.
Facts
Classification CodeIn the United States, wildlife trafficking is prosecuted principally under the Lacey Act of 1900, which prohibits trade in wildlife, fish and plants illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold, working alongside the Endangered Species Act and the international Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 1 Typical PenaltyUnited States federal penalties for violating the Endangered Species Act framework range from fines as small as $500 per violation up to $25,000 per violation, or imprisonment of up to 6 months, penalties the same source describes as weakened by their limited size and by extensive built-in exceptions. 1 Elements of OffenseWildlife trafficking is the illegal gathering and trade of endangered species and protected wildlife, including plants and any byproduct or product made from a protected species, and often involves other illegal conduct such as tranquilizing animals without authorization. 1 Notable ExampleThe scale of wildlife trafficking is illustrated by its estimated value of $5 billion to $23 billion a year, rising to $67 billion to $193 billion when illegally traded timber and fish are included, a volume that makes it the fourth-largest criminal enterprise globally after drug, firearm and human trafficking. 1 Jurisdiction VariationThe illegal wildlife trade is enforced unevenly across the countries that make up its largest markets: China and the United States are named as the largest buyers in the illegal wildlife trade, while enforcement runs through CITES internationally and separate domestic statutes such as the Lacey Act and Endangered Species Act in the United States. 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
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Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wildlife Smuggling (Wikipedia)
United States section, Lacey Act paragraph
The Lacey Act of 1900 is a U.S. federal law that prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported, or sold, including endangered species.
lead paragraph
Wildlife smuggling, or wildlife trafficking, concerns the illegal gathering and trade of endangered species and protected wildlife, including plants and byproducts or products utilizing a species.
lead paragraph, largest buyer countries sentence
China and the United States are the largest buyers in the illegal wildlife trade.
United States section, ESA/CITES penalties paragraph
The penalties as a result of breaking these laws are fines as small as $500 per violation and as large as $25,000 per violation or imprisonment up to 6 months. These laws are weakened by these limited penalties and extensive exceptions.
lead paragraph, trade value and ranking sentence
the extensive estimated range of wildlife smuggling, anywhere from $5-$23 billion, with an additional $67-$193 billion when timber and fish are included. The prolific growth of wildlife smuggling makes it the fourth-largest criminal enterprise globally after drug, firearm, and human trafficking.
View the SourceLegal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 16 U.S. Code § 3372 - Prohibited acts
Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law SchoolIn Group: Poaching, Wildlife Trafficking and Harm to Animals, Statute textQuote, In Group: Poaching, Wildlife Trafficking and Harm to Animals, Statute text
to import , export, transport , sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or in violation of any Indian tribal law ;
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