The prevalence of wildlife trade continues to threaten economic stability in the ASEAN region. After nine tons of ivory was seized by customs in Singapore on July 21, 2019, a haul of frozen tiger carcasses was discovered in a car in Hanoi a few days later. The illegal smuggling intervention in July 2019 was the nation’s biggest seizure ever, impounding tusks from 300 elephants worth $12.9 million and 12 tons of pangolin scales valued at approximately $35.7 million. As the ASEAN countries try to tackle a well-worn smuggling route across the region, the number of wildlife-trafficking incidents remains worrying. Even though ASEAN has long vowed to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade, this business is thriving throughout the region. As a result, illicit financial flow associated with illegal wildlife trade threatens the economic development in the ASEAN region.
All ASEAN members are signatories of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Unfortunately, limited enforcement, scant resources, and lack of cooperation among agencies are some of the primary reasons why illegal wildlife trade perpetuates to endanger wild species and their ecosystem. The ASEAN Center for Biodiversity has estimated that the region harbors $2.5 billion of illicit wildlife trade per year and estimates $23 billion in global illicit wildlife trade per year. These estimates demonstrate that ASEAN countries embody some of the most lucrative illegal trade hubs globally. Some of the most prevalent components of wildlife trade are used for traditional medicine, luxury goods or taken as pets. For instance, the leading products are ivory, horn, timber, pangolins, reptiles, birds, and various other exotic animals.
The ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and the ASEAN Cooperation on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement have been established to provide a comprehensive framework for combating the illegal wildlife trade. In March 2019, the ASEAN summit endorsed a joint press statement from the ASEAN ministerial meeting on illegal wildlife trade to enhance regional efforts. This agreement aims to address wildlife crime, law enforcement and illicit trade such as animal poaching, illegal logging, and animal trading. Despite the existing regulatory framework, the illegal trade keeps growing along with the transformation of technology. Ultimately, ASEAN countries continue to serve as sources, consumers, and transit hubs of the wildlife trade network.
The internet plays a significant role in the distribution of wildlife trade. As the growth of technology and online marketplaces are expanding, the internet and social media have become reliable avenues on which to conduct illegal wildlife transactions. Criminal syndicates can easily obscure online trading through different types of communication features on the internet such as proxies or fake accounts. In June 2019, the Indonesian National Police thwarted the illegal transaction of 26 protected animals including honey bears, parrots, and cockatoos. The suspects operated using Facebook to connect to local groups in Central Java. In addition, the Sun – a UK-based newspaper - has investigated a “closed” group on Facebook, which offers a variety of endangered animals such as lions, tigers, and cheetahs online with a price range between £1000 - £3000. Although Facebook has a strong policy in this matter, it is still challenging to infiltrate and to monitor online transactions.
The economic impacts of wildlife crime and trade are immense. The Illicit financial flows associated with wildlife trafficking not only harm the natural ecosystem but also harm governmental institutions. Moreover, these activities cause a profound decline in wildlife population and damage to ecosystems. Animal poaching and illegal logging most likely involve corruption, bribery, illicit enrichment, and money laundering within various institutions. Ultimately, the development of investment, tourism, and employment are in danger.
The sustainability of wildlife is essential for investment in the tourism sector in the ASEAN region. ASEAN countries are well-known for their wildlife tourism sectors that contribute to economic growth. Like many countries in Africa and America, the ASEAN region has vibrant biodiversity and ecosystems. Damage to these ecosystems will significantly obstruct the development of tourism sectors. The biodiversity loss will not only reduce the number of wild animals and harm their habitat but will also substantially hamper job creation, employment, and economic development within the region.
Even though ASEAN countries have pledged to treat wildlife trafficking as a priority environmental issue in the last ASEAN summit, the enforcement of legal restrictions in member countries will remain a challenge. ASEAN leaders should continue their commitment to strengthen the region’s resilience and policies to mitigate the risks of the illicit wildlife trade for economic stability. ASEAN should enhance domestic guidelines in detecting and preventing online wildlife trafficking. It is also essential to enable faster and better coordination by regulators, law enforcement agencies, and financial institutions. Finally, strengthening collaborative efforts and capacity building for wildlife management and enforcement among CITES members, UNODC, INTERPOL, and various NGOs will help ASEAN to ensure effectiveness in their efforts to combat illicit financial flows associated with the illegal wildlife trade.
