Study identifies 24 risks related to fraud, corruption, and laundering that facilitate wildlife trafficking in Brazil

06/06/2024

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A notable case involved an American collector who illegally acquired a leucistic boa constrictor—a rare genetic variant characterized by white skin and black eyes—from a zoo in Niterói — Foto: Divulgação

Brazil lacks a cohesive strategy to combat wildlife trafficking, a crime that remains both organized and widespread within the nation. Although it is a rampant, organized crime, there are no official national statistics. Global estimates suggest the illegal wildlife market could be valued between $7 billion and $23 billion, as indicated by a 2018 study conducted by Interpol and various organizations.

In Brazil, wildlife trafficking occurs both domestically and internationally. A notable case involved an American collector who illegally acquired a leucistic boa constrictor—a rare genetic variant characterized by white skin and black eyes—from a zoo in Niterói. This particular snake can fetch between $350,000 and $1 million. The trafficker bred the snake and sold its offspring online for up to $60,000 each to buyers in the United States, Canada, and Italy.

This case and others are detailed in a report titled “A Lavanderia de Fauna Silvestre: como riscos de fraude, corrupção e lavagem viabilizam o tráfico de vida silvestre” (“The Wildlife Laundromat: How Risks of Fraud, Corruption, and Laundering Enable Wildlife Trafficking”) released Wednesday. The report was prepared by Transparência Internacional-Brasil, part of a global movement active in over 100 countries, with technical assistance from Freeland Brasil—an international organization combating organized crime in wildlife trade—and supported by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The study underscores the significant role of corruption in facilitating wildlife trafficking.

The executive summary provides a detailed 135-page analysis of Brazil’s legal and institutional framework for combating wildlife trafficking, highlighting the susceptibility to fraud and corruption within the nation’s wildlife management systems and the international trade in species. Researchers scrutinized the inefficiencies in inspection, investigation, and enforcement practices carried out by environmental and police agencies, pinpointing prevalent corruption risks.

The report identifies 24 specific risks of fraud, corruption, and laundering that enable wildlife trafficking in Brazil. One notable risk involves the practice of reusing microchips from legally owned animals to falsely tag wildlife captured illicitly, thereby “laundering” their illegal origins.

Birds emerge as the most trafficked group in Brazil, representing approximately 80% of all animals seized by authorities. The exact runner-up is unclear, but reptiles and mammals also suffer significantly from illegal trade. The report references a study indicating that 23% of bird species in Brazil are impacted by trafficking.

“Irregular capture occurs throughout Brazil,” states Dário Cardoso, an analyst with Transparência Internacional-Brasil’s socio-environmental integrity program. There is substantial evidence indicating that animals are primarily captured in the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions and then traded within the Southeast, South, and Northeast. Data on transnational trafficking remains scant.

“We urgently need measures to prevent and combat the corruption that facilitates wildlife trafficking,” said Renato Morgado, program manager at Transparência Internacional-Brasil.

The report lays out recommendations across five key areas. One crucial area calls for action to eliminate fraud in wildlife management control systems, ensuring that animals captured illegally cannot be laundered into legality. Among these recommendations, the study highlights the importance of integrating automatic alerts into digital control systems.

Another critical area involves anti-money laundering measures. “Due to their high value, animals become assets within the economic framework. There is not only the laundering of money from trafficking but also the ‘laundering’ of illegally captured fauna,” explains Mr. Morgado. “Thus, it is essential to enhance Brazil’s anti-money laundering tools to detect these maneuvers in wildlife trafficking,” he adds. This enhancement could include setting up specific financial system alerts for wildlife trafficking activities.

“It is far from a random crime; it is a calculated and well-organized operation,” notes Mr. Cardoso, a specialist in criminal sciences. “A major issue is that environmental agencies do not have adequate data on seizures and fines. There is a severe lack of transparency,” he continues. “Without this information, we cannot fully grasp the extent of the problem or develop more effective counter-strategies.”

The report documents 18 cases and operations aimed at combating trafficking involving front zoos, veterinarians, inspectors, and cargo companies. It also details how birds are trafficked internationally, including the smuggling of eggs to foreign markets.

*Por Daniela Chiaretti — São Paulo

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com/