31 October 2013: A meeting hosted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force and partners in the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) discussed ways to stop the illegal trade in rhinoceros horn, with a focus on the crime-trade chain.

The meeting, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 28-29 October 2013, was attended by 52 representatives from 21 countries that play a role as source, transit or destination countries in the illegal rhinoceros horn trade chain. INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the World Customs Organization (WCO) also attended the session. Outcomes from the meeting, which was funded by Sweden via the ICCWC, included discussions on various strategies, including: increased international cooperation through memoranda of understanding (MoU) between countries; the use of DNA sampling and forensic techniques to combat illegal wildlife trade; and requests for mutual legal assistance to ensure that the entire crime chain is investigated. [CITES News]