INTERPOL Facilitates Wildlife Trafficking Intelligence Exchange in Barbados, Featuring St. Kitts Inspector Greaux.

Paragraph 1: The INTERPOL Intelligence Exchange and Regional Collaboration

From March 17-20, 2025, Bridgetown, Barbados hosted a crucial INTERPOL-led intelligence exchange meeting focused on combating wildlife trafficking. This gathering brought together law enforcement officials from various Caribbean nations, including Barbados, The Bahamas, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, to address the escalating threat of wildlife crime within the region. The meeting’s core objectives included the sharing of information on ongoing wildlife trafficking cases, the facilitation of practical mentoring sessions to enhance investigative skills, and the engagement in operational discussions aimed at bolstering wildlife crime investigations at both national and regional levels. Notably, Inspector Carl Greaux of St. Kitts and Nevis, a Senior Officer with the Regional Security System (RSS), represented both Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration in tackling this transnational crime.

Paragraph 2: The Role of the RSS in Combating Wildlife Crime

Inspector Greaux’s presentation emphasized the critical role of the RSS in combating wildlife crime across its eight member states: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Guyana. Established in response to regional security threats in the 1970s and 1980s, the RSS has evolved to encompass a broad range of security concerns, including environmental crimes like wildlife trafficking. The RSS’s Directorate of Policing and Risk Management has a specific mandate to address these crimes, recognizing the significant threat they pose to regional biodiversity and ecological health. Greaux’s presentation underscored the RSS’s commitment to collaborative efforts and information sharing among member states to combat this growing problem.

Paragraph 3: Wildlife Crime Challenges in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

The meeting highlighted the unique challenges faced by Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in enforcing wildlife crime legislation. Greaux presented case studies, including the challenges faced by the Graham Hall Nature Sanctuary in Barbados, a vital ecological site and home to endangered species like the St. Vincent Amazon parrot. The sanctuary faces persistent threats from poaching and habitat degradation, demonstrating the vulnerability of these precious ecosystems. The illegal capture of endangered species for the pet trade and other illicit markets underscores the need for enhanced security and surveillance measures. These cases illustrate the complex interplay of factors contributing to wildlife crime, including the demand for exotic pets, the lucrative nature of the illegal trade, and the challenges in monitoring remote and vulnerable areas.

Paragraph 4: Regional and International Initiatives Against Wildlife Trafficking

The meeting served as a platform to discuss and strengthen existing regional initiatives aimed at combating wildlife trafficking. The Caribbean Wildlife Enforcement Network (CARIBWEN), established in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Caribbean Environment Program, was highlighted as a key mechanism for regional cooperation. CARIBWEN focuses on improving collaboration among Eastern Caribbean nations through joint enforcement operations, timely information sharing, capacity building, and policy harmonization. Additionally, the meeting showcased international partnerships, including a 2023 funding initiative by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USAID to enhance counter-wildlife crime capabilities in the Eastern Caribbean. This initiative supports the strengthening of law enforcement agencies, integration of international strategies, and fostering interagency collaboration, demonstrating the critical role of international support in combating this transnational crime.

Paragraph 5: Wildlife Crime Trends, Challenges, and Information Gaps

Inspector Greaux presented data from the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force, identifying lizards, snakes, and turtles as the most frequently trafficked species in the region. He underscored that wildlife traffickers exploit existing trade routes used for other illicit goods, making it easier to smuggle wildlife across borders. This highlights the need for greater scrutiny and control of these trade routes. The adaptability of criminal networks involved in wildlife trafficking, exploiting weaknesses in legal frameworks and enforcement systems, was also emphasized. The presentation highlighted key areas requiring improvement, including enhanced data collection and analysis, legislative and policy assessments, capacity building for law enforcement, regional collaboration, financial and technical support, and community engagement and public awareness. The slogan, "If you see something, say something," emphasized the importance of community involvement in reporting suspicious activity.

Paragraph 6: Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Future Directions

The INTERPOL intelligence exchange meeting served as a critical forum for reinforcing the importance of regional collaboration in tackling wildlife crime. Through continued partnerships, capacity building initiatives, and policy reforms, Eastern Caribbean nations are actively working to protect their unique biodiversity from the devastating effects of illegal wildlife trafficking. Inspector Greaux’s contributions underscored the crucial role of the RSS in spearheading regional efforts. The meeting’s outcomes signal a renewed commitment to strengthening law enforcement capabilities, enhancing information sharing networks, and bolstering regional collaboration to effectively address the complex challenges of wildlife crime in the Eastern Caribbean. The meeting served as a call to action for continued vigilance, collaborative efforts, and sustained commitment to protect the region’s natural heritage.