By Wildlife Justice Commission
In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach of these illegal activities. But then, in an unexpected turn, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp and sustained decline in these trades. And, remarkably, that disruption is holding.
But why has the trade not surged back? What does this shifting dynamic mean for the future of wildlife crime prevention and law enforcement?
We’re proud to share our latest report, Disruption and Disarray, which takes a deep dive into pangolin and ivory trafficking trends over the last decade —revealing a significant and sustained disruption in the flow of these products from Africa to Asia.
Drawing from seizure data, open-source research, and the Wildlife Justice Commission’s (WJC) own criminal intelligence and investigations, Disruption and Disarray paints a current and comprehensive picture of the pangolin and ivory trafficking landscape. It also provides best practices and recommendations for law enforcement and policymakers to strengthen future efforts against wildlife trafficking.
As traffickers adapt, so must we.
See full report:
