Countering Wildlife Trafficking : Crime Scene Investigation Training in Phnom Penh

In December 2018, Protective Intelligence Network trainers supported the Wildlife Conservation Society in Cambodia (WCS) in delivering a successful Crime Scene Investigation Training specifically aimed to counter wildlife trafficking in the region.

The four days workshop was organised by the Wildlife Conservation Society in Phnom Penh with the support of the United States Department of State - Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. (INL)

WCS is a renown international NGO whose mission is to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Its goal is to conserve the world's largest wild places in 15 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the planet's biodiversity. WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth.

The course stressed the importance of conducting deeper investigations in order to identify criminal networks, and underlined the need of multi- agency and international approaches during Wildlife Trafficking investigations. Wildlife Crime Legislation, Criminal Intelligence Analysis, Wildlife Crime Detection, and Open Source and Social Media Intelligence Exploitation were part of learning activities included in the workshop.

Participants to the training course were officers of the Cambodian National Police, and officials of the Cambodian General Department of Custom and Excise, the Cambodia Import-Export Inspection and Fraud Repression Directorate General (Camcontrol) of the Ministry of Commerce, and the Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.