Kathmandu: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today emphasized the necessity for enhanced regional cooperation to tackle wildlife crime in South Asia. He highlighted the importance of strengthening regional intelligence-sharing, coordinated law enforcement, and joint operations to combat the growing issue of transnational and organized wildlife crime in the region. Mintoo made these remarks at the first General Assembly of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), held in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, according to a press release received today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mintoo noted that wildlife and ecosystems transcend political borders, which criminal networks exploit for transnational wildlife trafficking. These networks utilize borders, transportation systems, commercial channels, online platforms, and financial systems to conduct their illegal activities. Mintoo stressed that law enforcement should extend beyond merely seizing wildlife and arresting offenders. Authorities must identify, investigate, and dismantle the organizers, financiers, and criminal networks behind these crimes. He emphasized that every seizure should be an opportunity to gather intelligence, including information on the origin of the wildlife, the routes used, individuals involved, financiers, and the intended destination of the wildlife.
Mintoo also underscored the significance of online monitoring, cyber investigations, and the use of digital evidence in addressing online wildlife crime. He called for financial investigations, asset tracing, and anti-money-laundering measures to be employed in major wildlife crime cases, in line with national laws. Additionally, Mintoo advocated for expanding the use of wildlife forensics, DNA analysis, digital forensics, and geospatial technologies, alongside joint training and expert exchanges among member countries.
The minister urged stronger regional cooperation in the rescue, rehabilitation, and repatriation of seized live wildlife. Regarding the SAWEN Strategic Plan 2026-2030, he mentioned that the proposed plan offers an opportunity to translate these priorities into a specific and practical regional program of action. Bangladesh supports a plan prioritizing intelligence-sharing, law enforcement, criminal justice, digital and financial investigations, science and forensics, capacity development, and reducing demand for wildlife.
Mintoo stated that SAWEN's first General Assembly has created a unique opportunity to convert political commitments into tangible actions. He expressed hope that member countries would depart from Kathmandu with a shared commitment to establish stronger intelligence-sharing mechanisms, carry out practical joint operations, and dismantle criminal networks threatening wildlife. He reiterated Bangladesh's readiness to collaborate with all SAWEN member countries, international organizations, and development partners to build a robust, interconnected, and effective regional wildlife law-enforcement system.
The conference was attended by Nepal's House of Representatives Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, Nepal's Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary, Secretary General of SAWEN Dr. Krisna Prasad Acharya, and representatives from different organizations, including those from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, the Maldives, and Bangladesh.