Peru is a central link in the regional illegal wildlife supply chain. Organized criminal groups already engaging in drug trafficking or other organized criminal activity harness the power of their existing networks to diversify revenue and launder money through wildlife trafficking (WT). These criminal industries thrive in Peru, a primary producer of the world’s cocaine supply, and operate near rare and exotic species that are sold in wealthy markets overseas. Not only does WT have a detrimental effect on the natural environments where trafficking syndicates operate, it also impacts the government institutions responsible for environmental law enforcement. It follows closely behind trafficking in drugs, guns, and people as one of the most lucrative forms of income for organized criminal groups.
From 2020-2023, the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) partnered with the government of Peru in its effort to combat wildlife trafficking. ABA ROLI supported the enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of wildlife crimes in Peru. Together, ABA ROLI and these entities enhanced the capacity of justice sector institutions and promoted cross-border and regional law enforcement coordination. The Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Peru program was funded by the US Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Through this program, ABA ROLI developed and implemented training courses to strengthen the capacity of specialized units of the police, prosecution, and executive branch agencies specifically tasked with environmental law enforcement. ABA ROLI also led participants through a series of theoretical and practical exercises designed to strengthen their capacity to prohibit wildlife trafficking activity, before illegal goods can enter the stream of commerce. Peruvian police specializing in WT received instruction on advanced investigation techniques from their US Fish and Wildlife Service counterparts. Prosecutors were trained in litigation techniques and strategies, and judges learned the ins and outs of the highly scientific and nuanced issues surrounding wildlife trafficking in order to apply the law as justice demands. ABA ROLI’s local partners participated in capacity building activities to understand and enhance inter-institutional coordination against this complex type of criminal activity.
In 2022, the program conducted a study trip to Oregon (OR) during which seven Peruvian officials learned first-hand about the techniques and best practices at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Forensics Laboratory (USFWS) in Ashland, OR.
In 2022, ABA ROLI Peru held 30 training workshops for those tasked with combating WT. The workshops included two intensive courses and four fully asynchronous virtual courses, all focused on processing cases of wildlife trafficking in the accusatory system. More than 1,700 officials from various government agencies across Peru attended the workshops.
To increase awareness, ABA ROLI facilitated know-your-rights workshops to educate participants on the potential legal ramifications of engaging in poaching or commerce of illegal wildlife goods. These educational opportunities aim to deter nefarious behavior and offer legal advice on legitimate forms of commercial activity. The program conducted an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects wildlife trafficking has on citizens. It leveraged Peru’s three most popular social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The campaign reached approximately 240,000 citizens. However, the view count is expected to grow as the campaign’s materials continue circulating on these platforms. The campaign was accompanied by six conferences aimed at non-lawyer justices of the peace, “ronderos” (informal community watch organizations), judicial counselors, and other actors with positions of leadership in their communities. The conferences reached hundreds of people. Each participant received campaign merchandise to help spread the message.
Wildlife trafficking is oftentimes one source of revenue for transnational criminal organizations. ABA ROLI conducts on-the-ground studies to identify the associated crimes that enable organized criminal groups engaging in WT to profit. For example, ABA ROLI conducted a targeted de jure and de facto assessment of anti-corruption laws and policies to strengthen anticorruption efforts and improve justice sector officials’ capacity to disrupt wildlife trafficking activity. These efforts are complemented by anti-corruption training programs with WT-specific information for law enforcement.
Through 2022, ABA ROLI supported and evaluated CWT’s implementation with eight written publications. The program conducted three investigations and evaluations of ABA ROLI’s work in Peru. ABA ROLI also wrote and distributed five manuals for program participants. The manuals maintained a broad focus, addressing topics from precisely how criminals traffic wildlife, to how wildlife trafficking is linked with other crimes like corruption.
To strengthen the capacity of officials from Peru and neighboring countries to combat WT at a regional level, ABA ROLI developed a guide to provide instruction for the use of mutual legal assistance instruments and informal cooperation during investigations and Prosecutions. Workshops provide technical instruction on the investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial skills needed to harness mutual legal assistance to disrupt wildlife trafficking activity at the international level. ABA ROLI also hosted a binational conference that brought together 18 officials from Peru and Ecuador. The goal of the conference was to discuss opportunities for international cooperation in the fight against wildlife trafficking. The meeting culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding that lays the foundations for bilateral cooperation along the Peru-Ecuador border. Although the program concluded in early 2023, efforts to combat WT will continue through regional efforts in the tri-border area.