Smuggling Techniques

© TRAFFIC Southeast Asia 2022

How is wildlife trafficked?

By AIR By SEA
© Operation Cobra - Tanzania

© Freeland © Freeland
By LAND
Methods of Transport

Large volume wildlife cargoes are sent by

land in trucks, cars and public transport
(buses and trains) – these may travel
through a number of countries before
reaching their destination market.
Methods of Transport

Smaller items and quantities often

smuggled in luggage or on the person.

Examples include
Indian Star Tortoise,
often smuggled into
Singapore and
Kuala Lumpur.
Examples of how illegal trade can happen

• Retail/Wholesale Outlets • Internet / e-mail

• Exhibitions & Trade Fairs • Notice boards

• Hobbyist Groups / Clubs • Mail outs

• Hobbyist Magazines • Newspaper advertising

• Circulation of Price Lists • Canvassing

• Targeted Telephone / Fax • Word of mouth

Social Media
Increasing Use by Traders

Everyone can see what is posted on a website

Social media allows dealers to select who can view and
they may block those who don’t buy or ask lots of
questions

Social media protects the seller and is hard to monitor

Social Media
Social Media
Coalition to end wildlife trafficking online
2018 - Sept 2021
Smuggling Techniques

Where enforcement is poor,

selling wildlife openly is common
and elaborate smuggling
techniques are hardly needed...

…in other countries where

enforcement is more rigid, more
imaginative techniques are
required.
Concealing wildlife in cargo
Concealing wildlife in cargo
Concealing wildlife in cargo
Concealing wildlife in cargo

Joyce Wu / Joyce Wu /
TRAFFIC East Asia TRAFFIC East Asia
Concealing wildlife in cargo
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife on public transport
Concealing wildlife in a parade

April 2014
60 tonnes of illegal
timber found on fleet of
seven floats decorated
with forest conservation
messages at Thingyan
celebrations in
Patheingyi
Concealing wildlife in bags

Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department

Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Department
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife in bags
Concealing wildlife on the person

Australian Customs Bureau Australian Customs Bureau

Australian Customs Bureau Australian

Customs Bureau
Concealing wildlife on the person

Australian Australian Customs Bureau

Customs
Bureau
Concealing wildlife on the person
Concealing wildlife on the person
Concealing wildlife on the person
Concealing wildlife on the person

Australian Customs Bureau

Concealing wildlife on the person

US Fish & Wildlife Service

Concealing wildlife on the person

Australian Customs

Australian Customs
Concealing wildlife on the person

Pat Cheng/TRAFFIC SEA

Concealing wildlife on the person

Pat Cheng/TRAFFIC SEA Pat Cheng/TRAFFIC SEA

Concealing wildlife by post
Concealing wildlife by post
Concealing wildlife by post
Concealing wildlife by post

By Thai post
1 Helmeted
Hornbill head
Concealing wildlife by post
“plant” “gift”
Concealing wildlife by post
Concealing wildlife by post

Tiger and lion parts

Other techniques

• Mixing with `look-alike’ species

• “Double-packaging”

• Inaccurate documents
Some smugglers are not so clever…
Notification of seizures

Give official notification

of your seizures

Let your neighbours

know of seizures…

…especially the
countries where the
shipment originated!
Publicise your successes…
and successful prosecutions…
But most efforts are successful…
THANK YOU