According to Interpol officials, environmental crimes are among the most profitable on a global scale. In terms of their financial performance, they are second only to the drug trade, counterfeiting of banknotes and human trafficking.
This information was released by international forensic experts who have gathered in the French city of Nimes for three days to discuss environmental crimes ahead of the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will begin in Paris on November 30th. According to Interpol, on crimes against the environment - due to illegal deforestation, the prohibited trade in wild animals and plants, the discharge of toxic water, etc. — malefactors annually earn from 70 to 213 billion US dollars a year.
Cees Van Duijn, leader of Interpol's Environmental Crimes Program, expressed great concern about the lack of public interest in this issue, including at the upcoming COP21 conference in Paris. Moreover, the number of such crimes, unfortunately, is only growing.
According to Interpol, a significant amount of crime against wildlife and related to pollution of the planet is carried out by organized criminal networks that thrive on low risk of prosecution and high proceeds from smuggling and other types of crime.
See also anekdotig:
- News: " Emissions of greenhouse gases in Europe require further reduction " (October 26, 2015).
- News: " 2015 and 2016 will be the warmest years in the history of the Planet " (September 22, 2015).
- News: " The Vatican held a march in support of the position of Pope Francis against climate change " (June 29, 2015).
- Article: " Loss of forest - loss of life ."