End Wildlife Poaching — and its Financial Benefit to Terrorists
Transnational criminal syndicates, terrorist organizations and
Islamic extremists are increasingly turning to wildlife trafficking to
bankroll their operations. Specifically, elephant and rhinoceros ivory
accounts for an increasing share of the budget of Somali militant groups
and al-Qaeda affiliates. So far, the White House and international
agencies have failed to effectively address this emerging threat.
The United Nations has categorized trafficking in wildlife products as a “serious crime”
in order to protect the animals that produce ivory. Nevertheless, their
tusks are in demand throughout Africa, Asia and the West.
-snip-
According to the Stimson Center,
a respected Washington DC think tank, “the spike in poaching and
wildlife crime coincides with the increased involvement of sophisticated
transnational organized criminals and terrorist organizations.”
Al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda affiliate that carried out the recent attacks in
Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, now reportedly generates over 40% of its revenue from illicit ivory sales. Other groups, such as Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army and Darfur’s Janjaweed, are also said to be turning to wildlife trafficking to bankroll their operations.
To read the full story, click here.