Stakeholders combating environmental crime have called for improved collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. The call was made on Friday June 5, at a capacity-building workshop for judges and magistrates in Calabar, under the European Union-funded GUARD Wildlife Project.
Speaking at the event, Conservator of Cross River National Park, Mr Joseph Ntui, described wildlife crime as extending beyond the illegal trade in wildlife, to wider trans-national criminal networks, using proceeds from wildlife trafficking to finance other illegal activities, such as money laundering, arms proliferation, and threats to public security across regions. Ntui emphasised the need for capacity building and stronger collaborations.
The State Director of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr Raymond Anunobi, described the workshop as timely and expository.
Chief Superintendent of Immigration, Mr Demben Aferekpe, on his part, highlighted the role of immigration officers in curtailing wildlife trafficking across the nation’s borders.
Justice Joseph Bassey of the Cross River High Court, assured participants that the judiciary would continue to enforce environmental laws, and hold wildlife crime offenders accountable whenever such cases came before the courts.
The workshop was designed to strengthen the prosecution of wildlife and forest crimes through improved law enforcement agency and judiciary collaboration.
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