Bearder Drives EU to Fight Wildlife Trafficking
A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that the illegal wildlife trafficking is now a major global organised crime.
Each year thousands of highly lucrative illegal wildlife products like live reptiles, birds, corals, caviar, traditional Chinese medicine and ivory easily enter the EU's borders, before being sold and shipped to global destinations including the Far East.
As it stands the UK is leading the way in EU in terms of its seizures of illegal wildlife products at major transport hubs like London Heathrow Airport. But in many other parts of the EU, illegal wildlife products are easily entering countries before being put on the black market.
The UNODC's report highlights that the low priority given to wildlife crime by some national enforcement and judicial authorities in the EU hinders international efforts to penalise wildlife traffickers.
Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder, has drafted a European Parliament report on Wildlife Trafficking in the EU in response the Commission's proposed Action Plan to tackle the issue.
Catherine says:
"I am calling for the penalty of wildlife trafficking to fit the seriousness of this crime and a commitment from governments to commit funding to tackle the criminal gangs currently exploiting the loopholes that permit wildlife trafficking in the EU.
"Time is running out for many of our most endangered and beloved species. There is still a lot of work to do on this report with the final vote taking place in November in Strasbourg."
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