Guwahati: About 60 personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed at the international airport in Guwahati were sensitised on the grave threat posed to the nation by the ever-increasing illegal wildlife trade occurring through various airports in the country.
Two back-to-back workshops were conducted by a resource team from Aaranyak on February 22 and 23, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The elite CISF, responsible for securing airports nationwide, faces an escalating challenge in curbing wildlife trafficking amid the surge in illegal wildlife trade. Aaranyak emphasised the urgent need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures.
At the workshops, CISF personnel received detailed insights into combating the illegal wildlife trade prevalent at airports. Dr. Jimmy Borah, a senior manager at Aaranyak, and Project Officer Ivy Farheen Hussain presented comprehensive overviews of global wildlife crime, illegal trade modus operandi, and the tactics employed by smuggling networks at airports, both nationally and internationally. The Aaranyak officials actively engaged with the CISF personnel, addressing their queries and concerns.
Aaranyak sensitised the CISF personnel on the escalating global illegal wildlife trade, amounting to approximately 200 billion USD. They emphasised the threat it poses to national security due to its intricate connections with global drug cartels and arms smuggling networks.
The resource team from Aaranyak alerted the CISF personnel on the growing trend of illegal wildlife trade using air routes. They highlighted factors such as faster transshipment, convenience, cost-effectiveness, lower risk of detection, and the presence of corrupt elements in some airports facilitating illegal trade.
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Additionally, the Aaranyak team outlined the most traded illegal wildlife products globally. Beyond pangolin scales, tiger parts, ivory products, and rhino horns, they highlighted the trade in reptiles and various other precious faunal and floral species.
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