Overview of important international seizures in the European Union January to December 2014

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1 Overview of important international seizures in the European Union January to December 2014 Compiled by TRAFFIC April INTRODUCTION This briefing aims to provide an overview of the most important CITES-related seizures reported by Member States of the European Union 1 (EU) for the twelve-month period January to December 2014 inclusive so that these can be shared with key trade partners of the EU and selected third countries, as deemed necessary by EU Member States. Therefore, the focus of this briefing is on seizures having taken place at EU borders (airports, maritime ports, land boundaries and also postal centres). Intra-EU trade and trade internal to Member States are excluded. The quantitative analysis of seizures (in Section 2) is based on reports of significant seizures taking place at EU borders submitted by EU Member States to the European Commission (EC) for Although a total of 22 Member States provided information for this year, Section 2 is based on reports provided by 18 EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom) 2. Some of the 18 reporting EU Member States provided information for only a part of the reporting period. It is noted that EU Member States determine (and report) the seizures they consider to be significant according to their own criteria. To allow a quantitative analysis of data in Section 2, seizures that involved several species were separated and treated as distinct records. Therefore, this briefing refers to seizure records as opposed to seizures. This also means that the actual number of seizures was lower than the number of seizure records in Section 2. In addition to the significant seizures reported by EU Member States, this briefing also includes information from seizure news items shared by EU Member States via restricted channels for information exchange in the EU (see Section 3). 2. OVERVIEW OF REPORTED INTERNATIONAL SEIZURES INVOLVING THE EU A total of 1567 seizure records were reported by 19 EU Member States 3 in Of these, 1116 seizure records could be classified as international, i.e. relating to shipments involving external or third countries and so took place at EU external borders. Austria, Germany, the, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy together reported 94% of the international seizure records in The main types of commodity seized at EU borders in 2014 were, in order of number of reported seizure records (see Figure 1): 1 The Member States of the EU in 2014: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 2 A number of Member States (e.g. Denmark, Estonia and Slovakia) reported that no seizures or no significant seizures took place during the period(s) they reported on in Sweden reported three significant internal seizures in 2014, but did not report any seizures at its borders 3 The 18 Member States reporting seizures at borders in 2014 (international seizures), plus Sweden. 4 Member States listed here in order of importance (number of reported seizure records for 2014). Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 1

2 (i) medicinals 5, including both medicinal products and parts/derivatives for medicinal use 6 (over 2 million items (e.g. pills, packets, etc.) and an additional 4154 kg). This included plant-derived medicinal items (and 2934 kg) and 4438 animal-derived medicinal items (and 1220 kg). (ii) corals (887 specimens and approximately 900 kg); (iii) ivory (1292 specimens and approximately 150 kg); (iv) mammal bodies, parts and derivatives (234 specimens and approximately 165 kg); (v) reptile bodies, parts and derivatives (1615 specimens); (vi) live reptiles (3198 specimens); (vii) caviar (approx. 90 kg of caviar). Figure 1: Distribution of 1116 international seizure records reported by EU Member States across commodity groups, 2014 Invertebrate (bodies, parts and derivatives) 1% Bird (bodies, parts and derivatives) 1% Live plants 2% Caviar 5% Live birds 1% Other 2% Timber 1% Comprising: 31% plant-derived medicinals 8% animal-derived medicinals Live reptiles 7% Reptiles (bodies, parts and derivatives) 9% Medicinals 39% Mammal (bodies, parts and derivatives) 9% Ivory 10% Coral 13% Source: seizure reports by 18 EU Member States Important individual seizures reported by Member States across key commodity groups are set out in Section 3. Figure 2 depicts the main countries/territories of export or of departure of illegal trade as reported by the 18 EU Member States. The was the reported exporter for 284 seizure records: 80% of these exports (227 records) involved medicinals 8 ( items and an additional 57 kg) containing derivatives of plant taxa 5 Units used to report medicinals are not consistent across EU Member States: some reported units as packs of tablets others as individual tablets; sometimes no unit was specified. 6 Including animal parts/derivatives, e.g. rhino horn, Tiger bone and pangolin scales. 7 It is noted that this total includes one large seizure of pills containing African Cherry Prunus Africana (App. II/Annex B) exported from France in 2014 (country of destination not reported). 8 When it is stated that a medicine contains a CITES-listed species, this refers to the packaging which lists the species as one of the ingredients. Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 2

3 such as Aloe 9 Aloe spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B - particularly Cape Aloe Aloe ferox, App. II/Annex B), African Cherry Prunus africana (App. II/Annex B), orchids Orchidaceae (App. I/II, Annex A/B), and Hoodia Hoodia spp. (App. II/Annex B). was the reported exporter for 93 seizure records: as in 2013, most of these records involved medicinals (82 seizure records involving items and an additional 1002 kg) containing derivatives of taxa such as Hoodia, Costus Root Saussurea costus (App. I/Annex A), orchids, Musk Deer Moschus spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B), Leopard Panthera pardus (App. I/Annex A), Tiger Panthera tigris (App.I/Annex A), and Saiga Antelope (App. II/Annex B). Thailand was the reported exporter for 39 seizure records, primarily involving stony corals of the order Scleractinia (App. II/Annex B) (16 records) and reptile bodies, parts and derivatives (15 records), such as crocodile leather products (mainly Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis - App. I/Annex A) and dead snakes (e.g. species of cobra Naja spp. App. II/Annex B). Switzerland was the reported exporter for 38 seizure records: as in 2013, the majority of these exports (30 records) concerned medicinals containing Costus Root, nearly all of which were reported by Germany. The data in Figure 2 also include seizures made upon export from EU Member States. Figure 2: Main countries/territories of departure of illegal trade as reported by 18 EU Member States (international seizures), according to number of seizure records, 2014 Source: seizure reports by 18 EU Member States Figure 3 shows that mainland was the leading destination for commodities seized upon (re- )export from the EU/while in transit in the EU, in terms of number of seizure records in Mainland and Hong Kong 10 were together the destination in 47 records - as in 2013, the majority of these records involved elephant ivory, seized while in transit in EU Member States (France, Germany and the ) from Africa (Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria) and, to a lesser extent, South America (Argentina). As in 2013, mainland and Hong Kong were also of the 227 medicinals seizure records involved medicinal and cosmetic products containing Aloe exported from the without CITES documentation. 10 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region () Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 3

4 important destinations for pangolin scales Manis spp. (App. II/Annex B), dried seahorses Hippocampus spp. (App. II/Annex B) and rhino horn Rhinocerotidae spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B), exported from West and Central Africa (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Nigeria, Sierra Leone) and seized during transit in the EU (France, ). EU Member States also seized several shipments of live European Eels Anguilla anguilla (App. II/Annex B) upon export to mainland and Hong Kong (reported by France and Portugal in 2014). In addition, Viet Nam and Lao People s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) were important destinations for the following commodities: (i) Viet Nam for shipments of raw and worked African Elephant ivory (App. I/II, Annex A/B), for example pieces of tusks seized upon re-export from the Czech Republic and Germany from the luggage of Vietnamese citizens living in the Czech Republic. (ii) Lao PDR for worked African Elephant ivory exported from Mozambique and Nigeria; live Radiated Tortoises Astrochelys radiata (App. I/Annex A) exported from Madagascar; and pangolin scales exported from Nigeria. These items were seized during transit in France in Figure 3: Main countries/territories of destination of illegal trade from the EU (to non-eu countries only) as reported by 18 Member States, according to number of seizure records, 2014 Source: seizure reports by 18 EU Member States 3. DETAILS OF KEY INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL SEIZURES REPORTED BY EU MEMBER STATES IN 2014 Table 1 contains details of key individual seizures reported by EU Member States for the period January to December Again the focus is on international as opposed to intra-eu trade. Seizures were selected on the basis of the following criteria: (i) seizures involving particularly large quantities of a commodity type; and (ii) seizures highlighting important illegal trade trends involving the EU (e.g. in terms of countries or species involved). Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 4

5 Table 1: Details of selected seizures reported by EU Member States for 2014 arranged by commodity type (reporting country in bold) TRADE ROUTE Export Transit Destination Species and quantity seized Details MEDICINALS South Africa Ghana India, Hong Kong Switzerland FR Saudi Arabia Paraguay FR Netherlands Germany Austria UAE Nigeria France Lao PDR 4950 litres of juice containing Cape Aloe Aloe ferox (App. II/Annex B). Similar seizure made at Antwerp port in Belgium in items (capsules and bitters) containing Cape Aloe Aloe ferox (App. II/Annex B) detected in air freight. Three seizures of commercial quantities of Cape Aloe from Ghana reported by the in tablets and tablets containing Cape Aloe Aloe ferox (App. II/Annex B) found in multiple postal parcels. Similar seizures reported by Austria and the in kg medicinal products containing Costus Root Saussurea costus (App. I/Annex A). The also reported seizures of Ayurvedic soap containing Costus Root from India in Total of 550 bottles containing derivatives/extract of Costus Root Saussurea costus (App. I/Annex A) tablets containing Costus Root Saussurea costus (App. I/Annex A) (one of several such seizures that took place in Germany in 2014) 900 medicinal products containing Hoodia Hoodia gordonii (App. II/Annex B). One of several similar seizures that took place in Austria in tablets containing Hoodia Hoodia gordonii (App. II/Annex B). One of several similar seizures that took place in the in 2014, also exported from Hong Kong throat lozenges containing extract of orchid Dendrobium spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B). Four shipments of a total of items containing extract of African Cherry Prunus africana spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in air freight. 795 kg of derivatives of Agarwood Aquilaria spp. (App. II/Annex B) seized from a company producing essential oils and intended for export kg of Agarwood Aquilaria spp. (App. II/Annex B) chips detected in air freight kg of oil derived from Holy Wood Bulnesia sarmientoi (App. II/Annex B) 250 kg of pangolin scales Manis spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in air freight. Targeted at a maritime port based on a risk (May 2014) Detected following random controls at an airport Targeted at a maritime port based on a risk (Jun 2014) Detected following random controls at a river port (Jul 2014) Detected at a postal centre (Jul 2014) Detected at a postal centre Targeted at a maritime port based on a risk based on risk s (Dec 2014) Seized following an investigation (Sep 2014) Targeted at a maritime port based on a risk (Jul 2014) Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 5

6 TRADE ROUTE Export Transit Destination Species and quantity seized Details Cameroon France Equatorial Guinea São Tomé and Príncipe Indonesia Hong Kong France Austria Not reported Poland Guinea France Nigeria Senegal Russian Federation CORALS Viet Nam France Germany Finland 5.7 kg of pangolin scales Manis spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in express freight. Three other similar seizures reported by France in kg of pangolin scales Manis spp. (App. II/Annex B) concealed in the luggage of a transiting passenger. 165 dead seahorses Hippocampus spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in the luggage of a Taiwanese passenger. 600 tablets containing extract of seahorse Hippocampus spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in a postal parcel. 222 dried seahorses Hippocampus spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in a postal parcel. 145 dead seahorses Hippocampus spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in the luggage of a transiting passenger. Similar seizure from a passenger arriving from Sierra Leone in items containing musk deer Moschus spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) in passenger luggage kg and 0.05 kg of rhino horn Rhinocerotidae spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) detected in air freight. 2 horns of Southern White Rhinoceros Cerathoterium simum simum (App. I/II, Annex A/B) in the luggage of a national of Guinea-Bissau. 900 kg tortoise jelly drink powder containing CITESlisted tortoise Testudinidae spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) among the ingredients. 600 tablets containing derivatives of Great White Shark Carcharodon carcharias (App. II/Annex B). 500 live Medicinal Leeches Hirudo medicinalis (App. II/Annex B) of wild origin detected in the boot of a vehicle. 72 and 22 packets of medicinal products containing Tiger Panthera tigris (App. I/Annex A) detected in passenger luggage. 77 specimens of live stony coral Scleractinia spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in air freight. following a random control following a random control (Feb 2014) Targeted based on a risk (Feb 2014) Targeted at a postal centre (Oct 2014) following a random control following a random control (Jul 2014) (Nov 2014) following a random control Targeted at a maritime port based on a risk (May 2014) Seized at an airport (Nov 2014) Detected at a land boundary following a random control (Nov 2014) following random control/targeting (Jun 2014) based on intelligence Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 6

7 IVORY TRADE ROUTE Export Transit Destination Species and quantity seized Details Indonesia Unknown Kenya, Nigeria Czech Republic (also via Germany) Germany Viet Nam Hong Kong Zambia France Ivory Coast France Hong Kong Mozambique, Nigeria France MAMMAL BODIES, PARTS AND DERIVATIVES Russian Federation Lao PDR Estonia 852 kg of stony coral Scleractinia spp. (App. II/Annex B) detected in air freight. Other similar seizures in 2014, e.g. carried out in France. Continuing trend from Five cases of attempted illegal re-export of raw African Elephant Loxodonta africana (App. I/II, Annex A/B) ivory from airports in the Czech Republic and Germany by Vietnamese nationals living in the Czech Republic. The following quantities of raw ivory were seized: kg, 63.7 kg, kg, 35.5 kg and kg. Total of 152 African Elephant Loxodonta africana (App. I/II, Annex A/B) ivory carvings seized from postal parcels. The parcels were the subject of controlled deliveries in Hong Kong, resulting in the imprisonment of two people. Other similar seizures of worked ivory arriving by postal parcel from Kenya, Malawi and Nigeria and destined for mainland and Hong Kong took place in 2014 (seized in Germany and the ). Continuation of trend from 2012 and kg of worked African Elephant (App. I/II, Annex A/B) ivory (bangles and balls) detected in a courier package. The items were subject to a controlled delivery in France. A similar case involved ivory carvings exported in a courier package from Kenya to Belgium via the in March 2014 (also subject to a controlled delivery). 61 African Elephant Loxodonta africana (App. I/II, Annex A/B) ivory carvings weighing 4.08 kg detected in express freight. Two seizures of kg and 5.34 kg of worked African Elephant Loxodonta africana (App. I/II, Annex A/B) ivory (sculptures, combs and bracelets) found in express freight. 15 skins of Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx (App. II/Annex A) seized from five passengers at the Estonia - Russia border. No CITES documents could be presented resulting in seizure of the items. 11 A similar seizure of 22 Eurasian Lynx skins from the Russian Federation took place in Latvia in (Dec 2014) Seized from vehicles and luggage at/ en route to airports following random controls and targeting (Jan to July 2014) Detected at airports following random controls Targeting at airports based on risk s Detected at a land boundary (Feb 2014) Central African Republic France Total of 57 kg of primate (species unknown App. I/II, Annex A/B) meat seized from the baggage of nationals from the Central African Republic arriving at French airports. Other similar seizures involving mammal meat (various species) detected in the baggage of passengers arriving in France from Cameroon, Congo and Gabon. Bush meat coming from Central and West Africa in passenger luggage was seen in 2012 and Detected following random controls at airports 11 Estonian Tax and Customs Board, 02/14 alert shared on EU-TWIX. Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 7

8 TRADE ROUTE Export Transit Destination Species and quantity seized Details REPTILE BODIES, PARTS AND DERIVATIVES Thailand Senegal Mexico Hong Kong LIVE REPTILES Bulgaria Italy Austria Cameroon Belgium Austria Bahamas Germany Morocco France Belgium Ghana Mexico Germany Spain Guyana Netherlands Unknown Serbia Hungary Madagascar France Lao PDR Seizure of 196 small leather products made from the skin of Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis (App. I/Annex A). The commercial shipment was not accompanied by a CITES permit. 234 small leather products made from the skin of Desert Monitor Varanus griseus (App. I/Annex A) of wild origin. Detected in the luggage of a Senegalese national. 265 large leather products made from the skin of Chinese Alligator Alligator sinensis (App. I/Annex A) 230 American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis (App. II/Annex B) skins detected in air freight. Total of > 500 CITES and non-cites species of reptile, invertebrate and amphibian seized during transit at a Belgian airport. Included 33 live chameleons Chamaeleo spp. (App. II, Annex A/B) concealed under venomous snakes (non-cites). No CITES species declared. 13 San Salvador Rock Iguanas Cyclura rileyi (App. I, Annex A) detected in the luggage of two Romanian nationals due to fly on to Dusseldorf. 70 Spur-thighed Tortoises Testudo graeca (App. II/Annex A) detected in the engine compartment of the vehicle of a Belgian national. Part of a continuing trend of Spur-thighed Tortoises exported from North Africa (also from Algeria and Tunisia) to the EU (to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the in 2014). 100 live African-spurred Tortoises Geochelone sulcata (App. II/Annex B) destined for a trader in the. Tortoises younger than ages stated on corresponding permits. 11 Box Turtles Terrapene spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) detected in the luggage of a Mexican national. A total of 95 live animals were seized, including 40 lizards, 1 iguana, 4 horned vipers, and 44 turtles (all non-cites). Breach of CITES and animal welfare regulations. 163 live Spectacled Caimans Caiman crocodilus (App. I/II, Annex A/B). Similar seizures of Spectacled Caimans from French Guiana in live Hermann s Tortoises Testudo hermannii (App. II/Annex A) detected by border police patrols. The tortoises were smuggled in cotton sacks specimens of Radiated Tortoise Astrochelys radiata (App. I/Annex A) discovered in the double bottom of 6 parcels containing sea cucumbers. Targeting of air freight following targeting (Jun 2014) Seized on a highway (Sep 2014) Seized at an airport following targeting (Sep 2014) Targeting of air freight (Jan 2014) Detected as a result of targeting based on intelligence (Feb 2014) Random control at maritime port Detected in air freight as a result of targeting Detected following a random control at an airport (May 2014) Detected in air freight following a Customs documentary check (Jun 2014) Seized at a land border (Sep 2014) Targeting of air freight (Dec 2014) 12 Hungarian CITES MA news - 06/09/2014 (shared via EU-TWIX) Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 8

9 CAVIAR TRADE ROUTE Export Transit Destination Species and quantity seized Details Russian Federation Ukraine LIVE PLANTS, Hong Kong Malaysia LIVE BIRDS TIMBER EELS Unknown Unknown Ivory Coast Portugal Belarus Romania, Hungary Bulgaria Tunisia Poland France Spain Czech Republic, Slovakia Czech Republic Austria 6 kg sturgeon Acipenseriformes spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) caviar seized from a vehicle. Several seizures of commercial quantities of sturgeon Acipenseriformes spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B) caviar (between 2.7 and 4.1 kg approx.) from postal parcels plastic key chains and another seizure of 5000 plastic pendants for decoration containing small live cactus plants Mammillaria spp. (App. II/Annex B). 440 live orchids Orchidaceae spp. (App. I/II, Annex A/B). 70 African Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus (App. II/Annex B), 49 Senegal Parrots Poicephalus senegalus (App. II/Annex B) and 510 African finches (non-cites) of apparent wild origin transported in the vehicle of a Bulgarian citizen African Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus (App. II/Annex B) of wild origin seized from the vehicle of a Bulgarian citizen. One of several seizures of African bird species transported overland to the EU, also via Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Turkey (see above). 390 logs of African Cherry Prunus africana (App. II/Annex B) kg of Spanish Cedar Cedrela odorata (App. III/Annex C) (plantation stock) detected in a shipping container kg sawn wood of Big-leaf Mahogany Swietenia macrophylla (App. II/Annex B) detected in a shipping container. 144 and 128 kg glass eels (European Eel Anguilla Anguilla App. II/Annex B) seized upon export to. The eels originated in the wild in Portugal. Detected following an investigation in cooperation with the Spanish authorities. No permits accompanied the shipments, and false Customs code were used. Detected at a land boundary following a random control Detected at airports following random controls (2014) Detected in air freight (Nov 2014) Detected at a border post between Romania and Hungary (Jul 2014) Detected at a border post following a random control (Sep 2014) Detected in postal shipment (Jan 2014) Seized at a maritime port following targeting based on a risk (Jun 2014) Detected at a maritime port following targeting (Dec 2014) Detected in air freight following an investigation (Feb 2014) Abbreviations: Lao PDR - Lao People's Democratic Republic, UAE United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, App. CITES Appendix, Annex Annex of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, IATA International Air Transport Association 13 Hungarian CITES MA news 15/07/2014 (shared on EU-TWIX) Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 9

10 4. BRIEF COMPARISON TO 2013 A comprehensive and quantitative comparison of international seizures reported in 2013 and 2014 is not possible due to, among other things, the difference in the number of EU Member States reporting seizures in these two years (in 2013 a total of 15 EU Member States reported 1468 seizure records, whereas in 2014 a total of 18 EU Member States reported 1116 seizure records). However, some observations can be made when comparing these two years. The commodity groups involved in the seizures, and their order of importance (in terms of number of reported seizure records), were broadly similar in 2013 and 2014, with the commodity groups medicinals, corals and ivory ranking as the top three commodity groups in both years. 2014, however, saw a large increase in the number of live reptiles reported as seized, to more than twice the number reported as seized in 2013 (3198 specimens reported as seized in 2014, compared to 1570 specimens in 2013). Although around half of the total number of live reptiles seized in 2014 was attributable to three large seizures of CITES App. III/Annex C-listed species of freshwater turtle (each involving specimens exported from Singapore and the ), additional seizures took place in the EU in 2014 that were not included in this total as they were not specifically reported by Member States as part of this exercise. An example is the seizure of 1023 Hermann s Tortoises by authorities in Hungary in September 2014 (information shared via EU-TWIX - see Table 1 above). The 2014 seizures data highlight the continued importance of the EU as a destination for illegal trade in live reptiles, particularly tortoises but also other species (see Table 1 above) was also characterised by several important continuing/emerging trends in illegal trade, notably the following: Attempts by Vietnamese nationals living in the Czech Republic to illegally re-export raw ivory from the EU to Viet Nam. The importance of Lao PDR as a destination for commercial quantities of various wildlife commodities coming from Africa and transiting via the EU, including elephant ivory, pangolin scales and tortoises. In 2013, Lao PDR was the reported country of destination in 2 seizure records (compared to 4 records in 2014): these involved two shipments of ivory weighing a total of 17 kg (approx.) exported from Nigeria in postal parcels and detected at airports in Germany. As noted above, in 2014 Nigeria was again the reported country of export of ivory destined for Lao PDR, detected in express freight and seized during transit in France. The smuggling of live birds, particularly African parrot species, overland from Turkey into the EU. The main countries/territories of export or of departure reported for 2013 and 2014 (based on number of seizure records) were broadly similar in the two years, with and the again the top two countries of export in The featured even more prominently in 2014 due to an increased number of reported seizures of medicinal items (particularly health supplements) exported from the. When looking at the countries of destination of illegal trade detected in the EU, ranked first in both 2013 and Briefing prepared by TRAFFIC for the European Commission 10