Comparing Illicit Trades in Wildlife and Drugs: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

This article is an exploratory study into the similarities, differences, and overlaps between the illegal wildlife trade and the illegal drug trade, using original and literature-based research from the Russian Far East and Western Europe, respectively. The purpose of such a comparison is to gain further insight into the illegal wildlife trade through the examination of the more thoroughly studied illegal drug trade. We first examine the global size of these markets and then detail and compare actors and smuggling operations found in each. This leads to a possible typology of features that the trades have in common and to discussion of the direct linkages between these two illicit markets.

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Notes on contributors

Nigel South

NIGEL SOUTH , Ph.D., joined the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex in 1990. Since November 2005 he has been Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic and Regional Development). Research interests include the development of a green perspective in criminology; illegal and legal drug use, related health and crime issues; crime, inequalities, and citizenship. Recent books: P. Beirne and N. South (eds.) Issues in Green Criminology: Confronting Harms against Environments, Humanity and other Animals, Willan, Devon (2007) and co-author of Criminology: A Sociological Introduction, 2nd edition, (2009) Routledge.

Tanya Wyatt

TANYA WYATT , Ph.D., completed her doctorate at the University of Kent and is now a Lecturer at Northumbria University. Research interests include green criminology, particularly the illegal wildlife trade and natural resource exploitation; and their intersection with national security concerns. Recent publications: Exploring the Organization in Russia Far East's Illegal Wildlife Trade: Two Case Studies of the Illegal Fur and Illegal Falcon Trades. In M. Bouchard and C. Wilkins (eds.) Illegal Markets and the Economics of Organized Crime, Routledge and the Illegal Raptor Trade in the Russian Federation. Contemporary Justice Review.