Wazzup Pilipinas!?
In a stunning revelation that signals a turning point in the global war against wildlife crime, the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has released a groundbreaking report that details a decade-long battle—and a major victory—against the illicit trafficking of pangolin scales and ivory. Titled Disruption and Disarray: An Analysis of Pangolin Scale and Ivory Trafficking, 2015–2024, the report sheds light on a sharp and sustained decline in large-scale trafficking operations, with ripple effects felt from the forests of Africa to the consumer markets of Asia.
For the past ten years, wildlife trafficking networks operated with impunity, moving contraband on an industrial scale. But now, in a dramatic twist, the WJC’s investigation shows that a combination of global disruption triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a strategic, intelligence-led crackdown on high-level traffickers has fractured the once-resilient supply chains.
A Turning Point in 2020: From Pandemic Shock to Strategic Strikes
The report highlights 2020 as a pivotal year—when seizure volumes of pangolin scales and ivory plummeted. While the global lockdowns initially stalled smuggling routes, it was what followed that truly changed the game: a sustained and targeted assault on criminal kingpins, masterminds, and financiers.
“This significant reduction is a testament to the power of focused, collaborative law enforcement,” declared Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of the WJC. “By striking at the top—arresting the decision-makers and dismantling entire trafficking chains—we’ve sent shockwaves through an industry that profited from the suffering of our planet’s most vulnerable creatures.”
A key partner in this offensive has been the Nigeria Customs Service, whose proactive interdictions at key exit points have exposed and dismantled trafficking syndicates before shipments ever left the continent. Notably, there have been no major pangolin scale seizures at seaports for the past three years—a dramatic indicator that the once-thriving supply chain has been significantly disrupted.
Changing Criminal Tactics and the Intelligence Gap
While the drop in large-scale seizures is cause for celebration, the WJC is quick to sound a note of caution. Criminal networks, ever adaptable, may be shifting tactics—diversifying their operations, concealing smaller shipments, or rerouting through less monitored channels. Stockpiles of pangolin scales continue to surface in Nigeria, suggesting that while exports have dipped, the criminal investment persists.
“The decline in seizures is encouraging, but it also reflects a dangerous intelligence gap,” the report notes. “Are traffickers truly scaling back, or are they simply becoming more elusive?”
From Evidence to Action: A Roadmap for Law Enforcement
With the stakes still high, the WJC offers a robust set of recommendations to build on the momentum:
Go for the kingpins: Prioritize the dismantling of criminal leadership and financing structures.
Dig deeper: Launch intelligence-led, long-term investigations to unravel complex webs.
Follow the money: Use financial investigations and asset seizures to remove the lifeblood of trafficking networks.
Strengthen cooperation: Cross-border intelligence sharing and joint task forces are crucial in confronting a global menace.
Involve prosecutors early: Legal experts must guide cases from the beginning to ensure airtight prosecutions.
These strategies reflect the lessons learned over a decade of relentless pursuit, marking a shift from reactive seizures to preemptive disruption.
Celebrating 10 Years of Impact — and a Renewed Call to Arms
As the WJC marks its 10th anniversary in 2025, this report is more than a retrospective; it is a battle cry. The victories achieved are undeniable—but so are the challenges that remain.
From its inception, the WJC has stood as a sentinel on the frontlines, exposing and dismantling the transnational machinery that fuels environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Through undercover investigations, intelligence-gathering, and policy advocacy, the organization has helped transform the global response to wildlife crime.
Yet the war is far from won.
“We must not grow complacent,” warns Swaak-Goldman. “Trafficking networks may be fractured, but they are not vanquished. Our report is both a celebration of what’s possible and a call for continued vigilance.”
A Global Responsibility
As pangolins teeter on the brink of extinction and elephant populations continue to face pressure from poaching, the world cannot afford to ease up. International cooperation, political will, and public awareness must remain at the forefront of this ongoing fight.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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