Wildlife smuggling

Crime fighters urged to step up fight against organised gangs behind multi-billion dollar wildlife trade

But Thailand's decision to "follow the money" is far from common practice in wildlife crime investigation.

A report has shown few countries recognise or investigate the links between wildlife crime and money laundering, even though such links are well known.

Wildlife crime has grown into a significant area of transnational organised crime, worth between $9 billion and $29 billion a year.

It threatens the existence of thousands of species of plants and animals, and affects almost every country in the world as a source, transit or destination for illegal products.

But a joint investigation by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime found despite an increase in large seizures of protected wildlife species and products, and the increased involvement of organised criminal groups, wildlife crime was too often viewed as an "emerging crime" or "outside of mainstream crime".