The largest ever transnational operation targeting wildlife crime across Africa has resulted in the arrests of over 100 people and the seizure of more than two tons of ivory.
INTERPOL has announced that the success of “Operation Costa” – Africa’s largest ever transnational wildlife crime operation – was due to the coordinated efforts of police, national wildlife, customs and national intelligence officers across Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In addition to illegal elephant ivory, leopard skins, weapons, ammunition, and vehicles were confiscated.
Officers in all six countries carried out inspections and raids on shops and markets in addition to checks being made on suspect vehicles at border crossing points. As well as illegal elephant ivory other wildlife products, such as leopard skins, were seized in addition to weapons, ammunition and vehicles being confiscated.
Peter Younger, manager of INTERPOL’s OASIS (Operational Assistance, Services and Infrastructure Support) Africa wildlife crime program said via INTERPOL that Operation Costa demonstrated the ability of law enforcement to effectively tackle wildlife crime.
The illegal ivory trade is not just about smugglers and poachers, there are far-reaching consequences to this and all wildlife crime. Law enforcement officers have been killed, people are threatened with violence, corruption and the wider economic impact on a country are all linked to this type of crime.
While taking these illegal items off the market is important, it is not the whole story. Operation Costa will also enable law enforcement, both in Africa and further afield, to identify the routes being used by smugglers, their connections and ultimately lead to the arrest of other individuals involved in these crimes.
Operation Costa was named in honor of Constantius ‘Costa’ Aloysius Mlay, the former Director of the Wildlife Division of the Tanzania Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
INTERPOL stated via their website that Operation Costa’s final results will be published when available.
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Image source: Wikimedia Commons
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