Countering Wildlife Trafficking in Latin America

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Wildlife trafficking represents an escalating international conservation and security crisis. Poaching operations have expanded beyond small-scale, opportunistic actions to a coordinated slaughter commissioned by armed and organized criminal syndicates. Wildlife trafficking generates billions of dollars in illicit revenues each year, contributing to illicit economies, fueling instability, and undermining security. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State will support activities that counter wildlife trafficking in Latin America to disrupt the ability of transnational criminal networks to profit from wildlife crimes, reducing the threat to stability and security. Applications should build upon partner countries’ civilian law enforcement capacities and capabilities by: (1) Increasing the disruption and interdiction of illicit trade, (2) Strengthening investigative and enforcement functions, (3) Enhancing prosecutorial and judicial capacity, and (4) Developing and implementing cross-border and regional law enforcement coordination and information sharing.

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