C4ADS Environmental Crimes Fusion Cell

The Global Trade in Illicit Elephant Ivory: Use Values and Financial Flows Bush Currency SpeculationConsumer Retail

Wildlife crime converges with other conflict and illicit activities Illicit copper smuggling network in Tanzania also transported ivory in 2013 Illicit diamonds and ivory seized from smuggling operation in Botswana Congolese army commander supplies illicit weapons to rebel groups in DRC in exchange for ivory and gold Allegations of illicit logging operations aiding bush meat poachers in TRIDOM Sudan-linked militias involved in ambush of rangers South Sudanese police crossing border to poach

Narrow Supply Chain Containers15-25 Chokepoint Ports10-15 Shipping Companies = Select major origin ports = Select major transit ports= Select major destination ports

Wildlife traffickers use complex means of physical obfuscation to transfer contraband across geographical boundaries and through licit supply chains 6 tons, Malaysia Obfuscated in timber 1 ton, Vietnam Obfuscated as peanuts 500 kg, Uganda Obfuscated as Shea Butter 1.8 tons, Tanzania Obfuscated in anchovies 900 kg, Vietnam Obfuscated in Charcoal

Seizure Network Analysis: A Global Scale 2015: Thailand 3,172 kg Over 14 tons of ivory products seized from a single logistics and transport infrastructure 2015: Singapore 3,700 kg 2013: Singapore 1,833 kg 2013: Mombasa 3,828 kg 2013: Hong Kong 1,323 kg 2011: Tanzania Illicit Copper Network map of information provided on Thailand Customs Press release Using company registers, maritime shipping databases, local media reporting, and government documentation we expanded the network Weeks later a second seizure occurred with several entities in common Consignor exported 6 containers within the past year, 3 of which are known to contain ivory An entity which coordinated container transport in 2015 seizures, also transported several containers seized in 2013 Up to 35,000 elephants killed --- Nearly $20 million

Consignee Network Analysis Vietnamese network imports 7 tons ivory, 4 tons pangolin scales and 142 kg rhino horn 2015: Thailand 3,172 kg ivory 2015: Da Nang, Vietnam 593 kg ivory / 142 kg rhino horn 2015: Da Nang, Vietnam 2,300 kg ivory 2015: Da Nang, Vietnam 1,001 kg ivory, 4,023 kg pangolin products Using the Vietnamese public records, we identified beneficial ownership and related companies of the consignee In April, 2015 a large scale ivory shipment was seized en-route to a Vietnamese consignee Months later, authorities in Da Nang, Vietnam made another ivory seizure, destined to the same consignee Just days later, two more seizures were made. Third seizure was destined for the same consignee Fourth seizure was destined for a related company

Wildlife traffickers maintain multiple bank accounts and conduct financial transfers across geographical boundaries Sales contract outlining wildlife sales, using banking networks in Vietnam and Laos, Denominated in USD Vixay Keosavang, a leading wildlife smuggling kingpin in Southeast Asia, allegedly has a transnational network of suppliers and buyers spanning Africa and Asia Transaction denominated in USD Banking correspondents in the US