Jaguar trafficking in Suriname, protection for pangolins and mafia waste dumping
Updates from the week in the world of wildlife trafficking and environmental crime.
Welcome to our second news round up for Wild Crime. This week I want to highlight this story by the Washington Post on jaguar trafficking in Suriname. It’s a great read with really good insight into the demands of trafficking and how it operates illicitly. You can read more below.
For paid subscribers, next week I plan to send out our first deep dive, so watch this space. And I’m also in the process of lining up a load of great interviews which you’ll be able to read soon.
For now, here’s the news:
Croatia: Thirteen people have been arrested in Croatia on suspicion of illegally importing hazardous waste from Italy, Germany and Slovenia. An estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste was illegally disposed of without being properly treated, according to Europol. The operation generated profits of at least €4m. (Balkan Green Energy News)
Nigeria: Conservation group Wild Africa has called on the Nigerian government to update its wildlife legislation and better protect pangolins. Pangolins, a type of scaly anteater, are endangered but are known to be frequently trafficked for the scales and meat. They are protected by Nigerian and international laws but the government is in the process of passing a law with stricter penalties for wildlife trafficking. (Punch)
Thailand: Hundreds of social media ads for elephant-related products were detected during a three-month period of monitoring by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime. Many of the ads were for raw ivory and were disguised using elephant emojis. (GITOC)
Poland: Polish companies continue to import so-called ‘blood timber’ from Myanmar despite EU sanctions, law NGO Client Earth has claimed. Some $11.5 million of timber was imported from Myanmar between 2021 and 2024. Teak from Myanmar is popular for its use by yacht manufacturers. But the industry has been accused of fuelling deforestation and funding the country’s military junta. (Mongabay)
Scotland: A bird of prey has disappeared from a border nature reserve “under suspicious circumstances”, according to RSPB Scotland. Red, the hen harrier, was hatched last year and tagged. But transmissions halted in mid-January and police have found no sign of the bird. The charity has previously said there have been 400 cases of illegal raptor persecution in Scotland over the past 15 years. (The Scotsman)
Brazil: Deliberate forest fires in the Brazilian state of Amazonas increased by 214% in 2024, fuelling the destruction of parts of the Amazon rainforest. Nearly 200 incidents were recorded. Wildfires have become increasingly common across South America. Experts say most are started by human activity. (Revista Cenarium)
Latin America: Pictures of jaguar teeth have cast light on the poaching of the endangered animals by criminal groups. A report from Earth League International identified 1,945 cases of wildlife poaching and trafficking across Latin America between 2017 and 2022. The cases included 188 endangered jaguars. Jaguar poaching is a particular problem in Suriname. (Washington Post / Chosun Biz)
Italy: Waste dumping by the Italian mafia has been linked to rising cancer rates. The European Court of Human Rights has now ruled that the country has failed to protect people from the effects. Experts said the ruling could set a precedent for other countries. (Guardian)
Bangladesh: Bangladeshi enforcement officers rescued 44 wild animals from resorts and picnic spots in Gazipur. The locations had allegedly been operating as “mini zoos” to attract visitors. The animals included a leopard, a monkey and eight spotted deer. (TBS News)
USA: Two shipping companies have admitted to environmental violations in a US court over a cover up relating to the illegal dumping of oily bilge water. The companies were fined $1.85 million. A routine inspection by the US Coast Guard revealed that a “magic pipe” was being used to dump the waste directly into the sea. (Hoodline)
UK: Organised criminals in the waste industry are “wreaking havoc” on the environment and costing the government £1bn a year, according to the British Environment Agency. Hotspots have been established over the past few years where organised gangs are engaging in large-scale tipping. (BBC)