1. Europol Unclassified
The role of regional and global law enforcement bodies and opportunities for enhanced cooperation - Europol
2nd Global Wildlife Enforcement Network Meeting
Johannesburg, 28th – 29th September 2016
Werner Gowitzke, MSc
Seconded National Expert
Environmental Crime
Europol/O28

2. Europol Europol Council Decision: Intelligence Agency
Serious/organised
crime
No investigations!
Coordination,
Analysis, Operational &
Strategic Support – not Interpol!

3. Europol Europol staff (850)
Liaison Bureaux – 28 Member States plus 3rd states with agreement
Other contacts (Commission, private sector, networks)
Analytical Work Files & Focal Points
Europol Information System
Various other tools such as Europol Platform for Experts (EPE)

4. International Cooperation
Europe: Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Moldova, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine America: Canada, Colombia, US agencies Oceania: Australia Organisations: Eurojust, INTERPOL; EU agencies, UNODC, WCO... also MoUs with NGOs Liaison Offices: Lyon & Singapore (IP); Washington, DC (US)

5. Information-Exchange
Communication channel: SIENA
(Secure Information Exchange Network Application)
For strategic & operational information, not unlike Interpol’s I24/7
Less partners than Interpol (focus on Europe and serious, organised crimes only)
Great! Everything is perfect. Are you jealous?

6. Europol and Global Wildlife Crime?
Europe
Place of origin
Place of destination
Transit
Organised crime groups (OCGs) and networks involved
Some problems are similar to the ones in other regions!

7. Europol and Wildlife Crime
Multi-disciplinary approach – sure Messages related to drugs cases, terrorism, immigration... No problem. Messages on glass eel trafficking? Reptiles and other pets... Challenging.

8. Environmental Crime
EU coordination for global wildlife crime Operation COBRA III
May 2015 (& before)
ASEAN-WEN, LATF, China, US, ICCWC, and others
25 EU Member States joined
Interpol – essential intermediary for outside communication
UK in the lead!

9. COBRA III
ALL channels used - but this was mentioned in messages Europol’s SIENA EnviCrimeNet – informal network, not unlike CARIN or ARINSA EU Wildlife Enforcement Group Various Secretariats of high level Working Groups in Brussels

10. Use of ‘networks’ and others
“It’s all about trust” through personal contacts (Dutch Prosecutor at CARIN launch in 2004) Wildlife crime: complex (rangers, environmental agencies, customs, police…) By default no operational information, however: Example: Tip from 1 country police on trafficking of species ->plane search by customs in other country

11. Thank you! ... Questions, please.
Werner Gowitzke Environmental Crime/EnviCrimeNet Secretariat Operations Department/Europol