10 October, 2003
Advisory - Interpol meeting in NZ on preventing wildlife smuggling

The first ever Interpol conference to be held in New Zealand deals with the growing problem of international wildlife smuggling.

The 16th Meeting of the Interpol Working Group on Wildlife Crime is being held in Auckland from the 14 to 16 October. Representatives from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) based in Geneva, and from law enforcement agencies from nations including Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the United States, Germany will attend the meeting.

While smuggling and trade in animals and plants has a low profile relative to guns, pornography and terrorism, there is increasing evidence of global crime syndicate involvement. New Zealand is regarded as a key location in world wildlife trade.

The Interpol meeting is hosted by the New Zealand Police and New Zealand’s Wildlife Enforcement Group (WEG) - an agency made up of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), New Zealand Customs Service and the Department of Conservation.

ENDS

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