2ND GLOBAL MEETING OF THE WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT NETWORKS THE ROLE OF INTERPOL REGIONAL BUREAUS IN FIGHTING ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa 28 – 29 September 2016 MR MUBITA NAWA MR SOSTHENES MAKURI INTERPOL REGIONAL BUREAUS, Harare and Nairobi

INTRODUCTION _______________________________________________________________ Wildlife crimes rank among trafficking in drugs, arms and human beings in terms of profit

ROLE OF INTERPOL REGIONAL BUREAUS Regional Bureau Harare Regional Bureau Nairobi Advise Police Organizations within the Region on trends and effects of the priority crimes of which environmental crime is inclusive Regional Bureaus serve as coordination offices in the regions Monitor and ensure effective implementation of regional and international resolutions , protocols and conventions. Act as secretariats to the Regional Police Chiefs Organizations and convene regional meetings

THE ROLE OF INTERPOL REGIONAL BUREAUS CONT. _____________________________________________________________________ Assess, determine legislation gaps and strengths and recommend to the Police Chiefs Provide training and guidance to NCBs and specialized officers. Develop and maintain effective relationship with strategic partners outside the organization Provide the link in investigations that transcend national borders. Organize, coordinate and attend regional and international meetings Provide Investigative support through access to INTERPOL databases and analytical tools

THE FOUR INTERPOL REGIONAL BUREAUS AND POLICE CHIEFS ORGANISATIONS IN AFRICA __________________________________________________________________ Eastern African Police chiefs Cooperation Organisation Central African Police chiefs Cooperation Organisation EAPCCO SARPCCO WAPCCO CAPCCO RB Yaoundé RB Nairobi POLICE CHIEFS ORGANIS-ATIONS IN AFRICA RB Abidjan RB Harare Western African Police chiefs Cooperation Organisation Southern African Police chiefs Cooperation Organisation

15 SARPCCO Member Countries 15. Seychelles 14. Madagascar 3. DRC 11. Tanzania 1. Angola 5. Malawi 6. Mauritius 13. Zimbabwe 12. Zambia 7. Mozambique 8. Namibia 9. SA 2. Botswana 4.Lesotho 10. Swaziland

13 EAPCCO Member Countries

INTERPOL GLOBAL initiatives on Environmental Crime Operation Worthy Operation Worthy was initiated in 2012 A regionally coordinated wildlife law enforcement operation. 14 member countries in Africa, targeting illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn. Seizure included nearly 2 tons of contraband ivory, 20kg of rhino horns and various other wildlife products, more than 30 illegal firearms 2015 Operation worthy II targeting ivory trafficking in Africa 376 arrest, seizure of 4.5 tonnes of elephant ivory and rhino horn Investigation of 25 criminal groups involved in the illicit trade

What Operation Worthy aims to achieve Dismantle the criminal networks behind environmental crime Globally gather information and intelligence Set up multi – disciplinary teams spanning environmental crime LEA, Police, Customs etc. Strengthen the capacity of environmental LEA nationally and internationally Mobilising political support for environmental crime

INTERPOL Regional Bureaus MEASURES to COMBAT Environmental Crimes Operation Worthy II Regional Investigative and Analytical Case Meeting (RIACM) A RIACM meeting is held annually, (RB Harare, 2015, RB Nairobi 2016) Identification of active Poaching groups in the region Sharing intelligence Provision of analytical support for specific ivory and rhino horn cases Enhancing the capacity building among LEAs in member countries The project is Operationally focused Provides for dismantling of poacher networks

RECENT SITUATION IN THE REGIONS _________________________________________________________________ SUCCESS STORIES ELEPHANT IVORY , ARMS SEIZURE AND ARREST OF POACHERS IN TANZANIA Three suspects nabbed in MALAWI

SUCCESS STORIES Kenyan national Feisal Mohammed was recently sentenced to 20 yrs. imprisonment for trafficking in ivory

Challenges Vast porous borders Limited Extension of I – 24/7 INTERPOL Communication system beyond National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Limited Border Management Training Limited use of INTERPOL Tools and services

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION WITH REGIONAL BUREAUS The RBs provide information sharing platform with member countries through I-24/7 Operations such as Operation USALAMA (Wildlife Crime is among the targeted crimes). In the last operation, 666 pieces of ivory were seized in Tanzania and six suspects arrested. Support Training of Law Enforcement Agencies Support extension of I-24/7 communication system

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! Mubita NAWA HEAD INTERPOL, Regional Bureau, Harare +263 712832670 m.nawa@interpol.int Sosthenes MAKURI Ag. HEAD INTERPOL Regional Bureau, Nairobi s.makuri@interpol.int