New threat assessment of global illicit trade in rhino horn finds exploitation by criminal groups

A disturbing new threat assessment of the global illicit trade in rhino horn has found criminal groups exploiting stockpile systems to access legally harvested rhino horns for trafficking…

Rhino horn trafficking remains a severe problem that needs to be addressed with a new sense of urgency as transnational organised crime. Over the past 10 years, the illegal killing of rhinos and trafficking of their horns has grown as a global criminal enterprise, comprising multiple criminal components dominated by greed and the pursuit of substantial profits.

The ‘Rhino horn trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime’ threat assessment presents a comprehensive analysis of rhino horn trafficking during the decade from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021.

It was compiled following analysis of 674 rhino horn seizure incidents collected from open-source reports that occurred globally during this decade, in addition to seven years of criminal intelligence and findings from Wildlife Justice Commission investigations into rhino horn trafficking conducted since 2015, and other open-source research.

The assessment aims to examine the driving forces behind the trade and changes in the criminal landscape. It also considers the threat to rhinos in 2022, with recommendations to help inform interventions to address this issue and ensure the global response is commensurate and appropriately targeted to current and future needs.

The full report can be downloaded at: https://wildlifejustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rhino-Horn-Trafficking-Report-2022-V19-Pages.pdf