QUITO, Ecuador – Enhancing national and regional capacity in combating environmental crime was the focus of two INTERPOL meetings hosted by Ecuador.

A two-day (10 and 11 October) National Environmental Security Seminar (NESS), focusing on forestry crimes brought together 28 representatives from Ecuadorean authorities including the national police, the Office of the Attorney General, the Foreign Affairs, Defence, Agriculture, Environment and Mining ministries, customs and the UN Environment Programme.

A NESS is the first step in the process of establishing a National Environmental Security Task Force (NEST), an initiative of INTERPOL’s Environmental Security programme to bring together all national agencies with responsibility for enforcing environmental laws.

Followed by a three-day (12 – 14 October) Regional Investigative and Analytical Case Meeting (RIACM) in which analysts and investigators from Brazil, Colombia, Peru and the United States also participated, the two events were held under the umbrella of INTERPOL’s Project Leaf.

Officials exchanged information on cross-border timber trafficking cases as well as identifying opportunities for future joint operational activities. All participating countries also signed a declaration of cooperation in relation to increased use of INTERPOL’s capabilities.

Funded by the Norwegian Agency for Cooperation and Development (Norad), Project Leaf is a global programme supporting law enforcement’s efforts in combating illegal logging, the illicit trade in timber and forestry-related crimes including corruption, fraud and money laundering.

Head of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Quito, Lieutenant Colonel Marco Sarabia said: “Crimes against the environment are international, organized and complex offences that are increasingly profitable. To successfully fight them, we need a coordinated, global response based on collaboration. We hope that the National Environmental Security Seminar is the first step to a strong and permanent working group that efficiently fights environmental crimes.

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