Tim Morris, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services

The Norwegian Government announced a pledge of up to €15 million (145 million NOK) to a partnership between INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the RHIPTO-Norwegian Center for Global Analyses to combat illegal deforestation.

Illegal deforestation is undoubtedly a threat of global proportions. In recent years INTERPOL operations have resulted in the seizure of more than 1 million cubic metres of illicit timber (worth in excess of USD 1.5 billion) across Africa, Asia and Latin America. INTERPOL and UNODC training of financial intelligence units has led to millions of dollars in assets being seized from criminals and returned to state budgets. RHIPTO reports through the UN Security Council have unravelled organized crime plundering natural resources such as timber, charcoal and gold worth USD 770 million annually in some of the world’s poorest countries – this has helped to energise the call for collective action for stronger enforcement of measures to prevent timber crime and action against those criminals who illegally cut down the world’s forests.

The three institutions will work together to share expertise, networks and efforts to jointly support the countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia This includes strengthening their capacity and building national task forces to support the frontline enforcement, investigation, prosecution and necessary customs efforts to prevent illegal deforestation, track illicit shipments and seize assets.