Wildlife Trafficking: Medicines, Ivory, and Coral Top Customs Seizures in Europe

Brussels is reviewing the major seizures of endangered species of fauna and flora reported by European Union member states over a one-year period, from January through December 2016. This overview focuses primarily on seizures of specimens, parts, or derivatives of animals or plants carried out by customs authorities at the EU’s external borders (airports, ports, land borders, and postal centers). Medicines of plant or animal origin topped the list of seized products, ahead of ivory and coral. Reptiles, whether alive or dead, bear the brunt of wildlife trafficking in protected species, far ahead of mammals.   In total, 2,268 major seizures (3,190 in 2015) were reported to the European Commission by 22 EU Member States in 2016. Among them, 18 countries* (including France) carried out 1,430 customs seizures related to international trafficking (at the EU’s external borders, involving third countries). In addition, 16 countries** (including France) reported 838 seizures made within the EU’s territory (at fairs, markets, shows, private residences, etc.). The Netherlands, Austria, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and France accounted for nearly 94% of “international” seizures in 2016. The main illegal goods intercepted at EU borders are, in order of importance:

• medicines (42%, down 21% from 2015), including dietary supplements and parts or products for medical use derived from plants or animals (bears, seahorses, felines, crocodiles), totaling more than 109,878 units and an additional 2,010 kg;
• ivory (14%, +3%), with 1,440 pieces and approximately 1,080 kg;
• corals (10%, +5%), totaling 1,568 specimens and approximately 137 kg;
• reptile bodies, parts, and derived products (8%, +4%), totaling 2,536 specimens (288 in 2015) and approximately 1,063 kg (92 kg in 2015);
• mammian bodies, parts, and derived products (7%, +2%), totaling 350 specimens and approximately 26 kg;
• live reptiles (5%, +2%), totaling 1,513 specimens;
• sturgeon caviar (4%, +2%), totaling 109,072 products—primarily cosmetics—and approximately 43 kg;
• parts and products derived from plants (2%), totaling 22,585 specimens and approximately 87 kg;
• parts and products derived from invertebrates (2%, +1%);
• live birds (2%, +1%);
• parts and products derived from birds (1%);
• live plants (1%, -1%).

 

China: The Leading Source of Trafficking

Based on the number of seizures by origin, five countries have been identified as the main sources of the illegal trade in endangered wild species:

• China, for products confiscated in 237 seizures, mostly medicines;
• the United States, for goods intercepted in 213 seizures, 85% of which were herbal medicines;
• the United Kingdom, which reported 147 export seizures, 88% of which involved carvings made from African elephant ivory (most detected in postal packages);
• Switzerland, for products intercepted in 98 seizures, 87% of which were herbal medicines (98% seized at postal centers);
• Thailand, with 53 seizures, 47% of which were medicines primarily of animal origin (seahorse).

  On the demand side, China is also the main destination for seized goods. Of the 170 seizures of products en route to third countries, 120 were destined for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. And approximately 54% of these seizures involved elephant ivory, mainly intercepted in Member States (United Kingdom, Germany) or in transit through the European Union from Africa (Nigeria, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, South Africa). Taiwan is also a major destination for parrots, such as the yellow-fronted Amazon and the yellow-headed Amazon. In total, 75 live parrots were seized in 2016, all of which were re-exported from the Netherlands. Two countries are also major destinations for several products: the United States for live reptiles and amphibians (frogs, geckos), mammal carcasses, parts, and products derived from primates and felines (ocelot, lynx), and Vietnam for African elephant ivory, both raw and worked.  

Trafficking at the Very Heart of the European Union

In 2016, of the 838 seizures within the European Union reported by 16 member states, 85% occurred in France, Spain, and the Netherlands . The main types of products seized were live reptiles (906 specimens, including 710 turtles), live birds (345 specimens, 72% of which were parrots), and plants, followed by mammals (182 bodies, parts, and byproducts from hippos, big cats, primates, and canids). The illegal export of European eels to Asia (primarily China and Hong Kong) also continued: Spain seized some 234 kg of live eels at the Madrid airport, which had been smuggled in plastic bags hidden inside suitcases. Finally, two major ivory seizures took place in 2016: a total of 90 African elephant tusks in Austria, and 625 kg of raw and worked ivory in Germany destined for Vietnam.   * Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.** Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.