13 December 2010: A workshop on transnational mechanisms for controlling illegal trade in tigers was held from 2-3 December 2010, in Hanoi, Viet Nam, organized by TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Government of Viet Nam, and funded by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as part of the “Tiger Futures” Project.

The workshop, titled “strengthening transnational mechanisms for controlling illegal trade in tigers and other wildlife,” allowed officials in Viet Nam to discuss with their international counterparts and colleagues the difficulties they face in combating illegal trade in wildlife. Special attention was given to illegal trade in tigers, elephant ivory, pangolins and rhinoceros horn.

Other topics included: recent confiscations of wildlife products by enforcement agencies in Viet Nam and their effective disposal; effective communication, collaboration and coordination at national, regional and international levels; gathering, analysis and dissemination of intelligence; effective prosecution of wildlife criminals; liaising with prosecutors and the judiciary; identifying organizers of wildlife crime and cross-border smuggling, locating their funding mechanisms and seizing their assets; strengthening current legislation; and examining recent case studies. Staff from the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), which was launched during the International Forum on Tiger Conservation, acted as resource persons during the event, illustrating the added value that the Consortium can bring to national efforts. [CITES Press Release]