Interpol and UNODC Strengthen Global Fight Against Forestry Crime with Norway's Support

PeopleDiplomats ♦ Published: August 27, 2023; 23:41 ♦ (Vindobona)

In a bid to combat forestry crime on a global scale, an international coalition spearheaded by Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supported by Norway has inaugurated the second stage of a revolutionary initiative, LEAP II.

Brazilian environmental police agents fighting illegal logging in Indigenous territory, 2018 / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons/ Ibama/ CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)

This refreshed initiative, backed by Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, underscores the importance of an intelligence-driven approach. It champions the collaboration of multiple agencies and the infusion of cutting-edge law enforcement techniques. Targeting Latin America and Southeast Asia, LEAP II is designed to assist nations in combating forestry crimes and…