Wildlife crime a complex problem to address - report
Surging organised wildlife crime syndicates, limitations in wildlife protection, prosecution and sentencing, and inappropriate sentencing are just some of the wildlife crime challenges authorities grapple with in Namibia.
According to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection 2023, organised criminal activity appears to be increasing in various sectors involving Namibia’s natural resources.
The report said that during 2023, complex syndicate operations were investigated related to rhino poaching, live-plant trafficking, illicit timber harvesting and trophy shooting.
“Some criminal convergence between different sectors has also been detected," the report found.
According to the report, rhino poaching and horn trafficking clearly involve intricate criminal networks within Namibia, as well as international trafficking routes and nodes, enabled by transnational syndicates.
“Far-reaching, transnational syndicate networks have also been detected in the live-plant trafficking sector, seeking to supply the global ornamental-plant trade. Illegal harvesting of Namibia’s timber resources is being carried out both via transnational collusion and through coordinated transgressions amongst Namibian actors.”
Network challenges
The report said more localised, syndicate-style operations have been uncovered during investigations into transgressions related to trophy hunting.
Investigations into organised crime exploiting Namibia’s natural resources seek to dismantle entire criminal networks rather than simply arresting individual suspects.
The use of wide-ranging surveillance and all available technologies is vital in facilitating the detection of criminal activities, the gathering of evidence, and enabling arrests and prosecutions.
The report noted that the use of the Prevention of Organised Crime Amendment Act for charges against criminal gangs, racketeering activities and money laundering is central to convictions with appropriate penalties.
However, Namibia’s vast, sparsely populated wilderness areas and the valuable biodiversity they support make the protection of resources targeted by criminals very difficult.
“The country is simply too big, and in many places too inaccessible, to physically protect all resources, everywhere, all of the time.”
Continued threats
According to the report, fluctuating poaching losses show that current protection and deterrence gains tend to be short-lived.
The resurgence in pangolin and rhino poaching during 2023, the expansion of plant poaching, and the suspected existence of additional problematic sectors such as live reptile trafficking make it clear that the threat of wildlife crime is undiminished.
Therefore, wildlife protection and crime prevention initiatives continue to be refined but remain a massive challenge, the report found.
The report emphasised that it is increasingly necessary to devise tailored protection measures for particular sectors and vulnerable species, while broader countermeasures and new approaches are required to change current crime dynamics and motivations.
Furthermore, the backlog of wildlife cases in courts continues to increase.
During 2023, only 96 cases were finalised – the lowest number since 2018.
To address this, a series of special courts dedicated to hearing wildlife crime cases have been held at various priority locations since April 2022.
According to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection 2023, organised criminal activity appears to be increasing in various sectors involving Namibia’s natural resources.
The report said that during 2023, complex syndicate operations were investigated related to rhino poaching, live-plant trafficking, illicit timber harvesting and trophy shooting.
“Some criminal convergence between different sectors has also been detected," the report found.
According to the report, rhino poaching and horn trafficking clearly involve intricate criminal networks within Namibia, as well as international trafficking routes and nodes, enabled by transnational syndicates.
“Far-reaching, transnational syndicate networks have also been detected in the live-plant trafficking sector, seeking to supply the global ornamental-plant trade. Illegal harvesting of Namibia’s timber resources is being carried out both via transnational collusion and through coordinated transgressions amongst Namibian actors.”
Network challenges
The report said more localised, syndicate-style operations have been uncovered during investigations into transgressions related to trophy hunting.
Investigations into organised crime exploiting Namibia’s natural resources seek to dismantle entire criminal networks rather than simply arresting individual suspects.
The use of wide-ranging surveillance and all available technologies is vital in facilitating the detection of criminal activities, the gathering of evidence, and enabling arrests and prosecutions.
The report noted that the use of the Prevention of Organised Crime Amendment Act for charges against criminal gangs, racketeering activities and money laundering is central to convictions with appropriate penalties.
However, Namibia’s vast, sparsely populated wilderness areas and the valuable biodiversity they support make the protection of resources targeted by criminals very difficult.
“The country is simply too big, and in many places too inaccessible, to physically protect all resources, everywhere, all of the time.”
Continued threats
According to the report, fluctuating poaching losses show that current protection and deterrence gains tend to be short-lived.
The resurgence in pangolin and rhino poaching during 2023, the expansion of plant poaching, and the suspected existence of additional problematic sectors such as live reptile trafficking make it clear that the threat of wildlife crime is undiminished.
Therefore, wildlife protection and crime prevention initiatives continue to be refined but remain a massive challenge, the report found.
The report emphasised that it is increasingly necessary to devise tailored protection measures for particular sectors and vulnerable species, while broader countermeasures and new approaches are required to change current crime dynamics and motivations.
Furthermore, the backlog of wildlife cases in courts continues to increase.
During 2023, only 96 cases were finalised – the lowest number since 2018.
To address this, a series of special courts dedicated to hearing wildlife crime cases have been held at various priority locations since April 2022.
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