D'ÉVALUATION SUR LE AU MAL UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING MALI FIELD ASSESSMENT REPORT FEBRUARY 2020 i This document was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA BiCC) program. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of its authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. For more information on the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change program, contact: USAID/West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change Tetra Tech 2nd Labone Link, North Labone Accra, Ghana Tel: +233(0)302 788 600 Email: www.tetratech.com/intdev Website: www.wabicc.org Stephen Kelleher Chief of Party Accra, Ghana Tel: + 233 (0) 302 788 600 Email: [email protected] Vaneska Litz Project Manager Burlington, Vermont Tel.: +1 802 495 0577 Email: [email protected] Citation: Ministry of Environment, Urban Sanitation and Sustainable Development, 2020. Understanding Threats to West African Biodiversity and Linkages to Wildlife Trafficking: Mali Field Assessment Report. Edited by Balinga M. and Stroud A. in 2020. Cover photo: West African slender-snouted crocodile. Credit: Frank Cornelissen UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING | MALI i TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................. IV ACRONYMS ......................................................................................................................................... V 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON MALI ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 CITES TRADE CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT: ................................................................................................. 7 2.0 ASSESSMENT OF WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AT MARKETS AND ENTRY POINTS.......... 8 2.1 MARKET .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 CUSTOMS DIRECTORATE ............................................................................................................................................. 9 2.3 AIRPORT.......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.4 KOURÉMALÉ - LAND BORDER CROSSING POST WITH GUINEA ............................................................................ 11 2.5 HÉRÉMAKONO – BORDER CROSSING POINT WITH BURKINA FASO.................................................................... 13 2.6 CUSTOMS AT HÉRÉMAKONO ..................................................................................................................................... 14 2.7 OTHER SITE VISITS ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 2.7.1 Interpol .......................................................................................................................................... 15 2.7.2 Water and Forests ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.7.3 Scientific Authority ..................................................................................................................... 16 2.7.4 Development of Wildlife Reserves, Water and Forests ................................................... 17 3.0 OVERVIEW OF WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT ............................................................... 18 3.1 PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT AS DETERRENT TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING ............................................................ 18 3.1.1 Enforcement Priority ................................................................................................................. 18 3.1.2 Serious Crime .............................................................................................................................. 18 3.1.3 National Enforcement Strategy ............................................................................................... 18 3.1.4 National Cooperation ............................................................................................................... 19 3.1.5 International Cooperation ........................................................................................................ 19 3.1.6 Strategic Risk Management ....................................................................................................... 19 3.1.7 Proactive Investigations ............................................................................................................. 20 3.1.8 Staffing, Recruitment and Law Enforcement Training ........................................................ 20 3.2 DETECTION OF WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES .................................................... 21 3.2.1 Targeted Enforcement Presence ............................................................................................. 21 3.2.2 Joint Supportive Operations .................................................................................................... 21 3.2.3 Border Control Staff .................................................................................................................. 22 3.2.4 Border Control Equipment ...................................................................................................... 22 3.2.5 Inspection and Seizure Powers ................................................................................................ 22 3.2.6 Disposal of Confiscated Wildlife Specimens ........................................................................ 22 3.3 WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED USING AN INTELLIGENCE-LED APPROACH ............... 23 3.3.1 Investigative Capacity ................................................................................................................. 23 3.3.2 Information Management .......................................................................................................... 23 3.3.3 Intelligence Analysis .................................................................................................................... 24 3.3.4 Intelligence-Led Investigations ................................................................................................. 24 3.3.5 Follow-Up Investigations ........................................................................................................... 24 3.4 SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES USED TO COMBAT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING ................................... 24 UNDERSTANDING THREATS TO WEST AFRICAN BIODIVERSITY AND LINKAGES TO WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING | MALI ii 3.4.1 Use of Specialized Investigative Techniques ......................................................................... 24 3.4.2 Forensic Technology .................................................................................................................. 25 3.4.3 Financial Investigations ............................................................................................................... 25 3.4.4 Use of Criminal Law .................................................................................................................. 25 3.4.5 Case File Preparation ................................................................................................................. 25 3.4.6 Case Clearance Rate And Administrative Penalties ........................................................... 26 3.4.7 Prosecutorial Capacity .............................................................................................................. 26 3.4.8 Prosecution Guidelines ............................................................................................................. 26 3.4.9 Available Penalties ...................................................................................................................... 26 4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................................... 27 4.1 TRAFFICKING ROUTES AND SEIZURES....................................................................................................................... 27 4.2 CHALLENGES RAISED BY PARTICIPANTS ................................................................................................................... 27 4.3 PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 28 ANNEX I. REVISED PROGRAM OF THE ASSESSMENT FIELD MISSION ................................. 30 ANNEX II. LISTS OF PARTICIPANTS INTERVIEWED DURING THE FIELD MISSION .......... 32 List of tables Table 1. Summary of