Wildlife traffickers moving ‘dirty money’ within web of organized crime, researcher finds

New research has found that the illegal wildlife trade is closely linked to other forms of organized crime, including arms trafficking, drug trafficking and people smuggling.

Michelle Ananstou led the research as part of her doctoral dissertation at the University of Waterloo (Washington).

She said she was surprised to discover through the research the large knowledge gap that exists when it comes to illegal activities that worth billions annually.

“We have no better understanding of how these organized crime networks move their dirty money around the world,” Anagnostou told CBC KW's Morning Edition.

“So, especially when they have such a sophisticated money laundering system that they may have created through drug and human trafficking, and now they're using it on wildlife, how can we better get to those people who are making millions and millions of dollars from exploiting wildlife and people?

“And they probably haven't even touched the product. That's why we keep arresting poachers in protected areas and smugglers at the border, and often they are lower down the value chain than the people we need to target.” Anagnostou added.

Wildlife trafficking is an illegal business that involves the illegal collection or trade of animals and plants. Illegal wildlife trade has far-reaching consequences for societies around the world, according to a study.

RCMP committed to stopping criminal threats: spokesperson

The RCMP, Canada's national police force, says it is committed to protecting Canadians and Canadian institutions by detecting, investigating and stopping the most serious criminal threats.

A police spokesman said most of these investigations are focused on organized crime networks that trade a variety of products inside and outside Canada.

“The RCMP is committed to working with provinces, territories and international partners to address the illegal wildlife trade and investigate the involvement of organized crime networks in this market,” Robin Percival wrote in an email to CBC News.

Percival said the RCMP is working with partner law enforcement agencies and the private sector to investigate the laundering of proceeds of crime through the criminal trade of various goods.

Percival said the force is also investigating and charging criminals suspected of being involved in the trafficking of various goods.

Brent Doberstein, a professor in the UW Department of the Environment and Anagnostou's doctoral supervisor, said the study is a prime example of the kind of research that can inform policy about real-world experience to address a global problem.

“This work promises to not only advance our knowledge of the complex world of illegal wildlife trafficking, but also help develop policies to reduce the crime,” Doberstein said.

Anagnostou's research used “innovative data collection methods” and access to law enforcement and intelligence experts who are often unable to publicly share opinions or experiences.

Anagnostu said The next phase of the research will focus on understanding how best to implement anti-money laundering measures to combat wildlife trafficking in Canada.

“How do we do this better? How do we follow the money, so to speak, and use financial transactions and use banks and financial intelligence units to better combat these crimes and essentially get to these high-level criminals who are really, really making a lot of money?”