An Assessment of the Involvement of Known Organized Crime Groups in Global Wildlife Trafficking Activities

• In Event: Cold-Blooded Networks: Exploring Illicit Reptile Trade and Organized Crime in the Digital Age

Abstract

The global illegal wildlife trade has increasingly become intertwined with organized crime, posing significant threats to biodiversity, conservation efforts, and national security worldwide. Thus far, there exists extremely limited and scattered literature specifically detailing the involvement of known organized crime groups in such trafficking activities. This research seeks to comprehensively document the involvement of these groups in wildlife trafficking, and therefore, will significantly contribute to the field by (1) producing the first report to comprehensively highlight the organized crime groups that have been most notoriously involved in wildlife trafficking and (2) do so at a time during which funding is being withdrawn for environmental activities by the United States government.

Author

• Monique Sosnowski, Farmingdale State College SUNY