1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 13 EAPCCO Member Countries

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !
Mubita NAWA
HEAD INTERPOL, Regional Bureau, Harare
Sosthenes MAKURI
Ag. HEAD INTERPOL Regional Bureau, Nairobi