(Posted 12th October 2026)
Courtesy of African Elephant News
| Bini & Sisay Sahlu, The Reporter (Ethiopia), October 10, 2026 |
| In the shadowy underbelly of global organized crime, wildlife trafficking ranks as the fourth most lucrative illicit trade, generating an estimated USD23 billion annually and trailing only narcotics, firearms, and human trafficking. Criminal networks exploit regulatory loopholes, adapt smuggling routes, and thrive amid corruption—turning East Africa into a critical source, transit, and consumer zone for endangered species, including elephants, rhinos, pangolins, and cheetahs. |
| Read more (12 min) |
