Date of Publication
2020 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Illegal Mining
Keywords
Illegal Mining, Illegal mining, illegal logging, environmental crime, Latin America, corruption, bribery, fraudulent permits, racketeering, wildlife crime, hazardous waste, organized crime groups
Description
“Latin America is a biodiversity powerhouse. The abundance of flora and fauna and mineral resources in the region makes it susceptible to environmental crime such as illegal logging, wildlife crime and illegal mining. The low risks and high profits associated with environmental crime have attracted organised criminal groups in Latin America that have traditionally engaged in illegal drug trafficking. Corruption plays a significant role in enabling and facilitating environmental crime in the region. This includes small-scale bribery of government bureaucrats, issuing of fraudulent permits, racketeering and grand corruption. Despite strong environmental laws and policies in Latin America, their implementation to curtail environmental crime remains poor in many countries. Evidence shows that corruption has undermined investigations, led to the selective application of laws and interference in police work, and to the disappearance of court evidence. Without effective law enforcement, criminals have inflicted physical violence on indigenous communities, environmental activists and human rights defenders who take a stand against environmental crime."
Corruption and environmental crime in Latin America
“Latin America is a biodiversity powerhouse. The abundance of flora and fauna and mineral resources in the region makes it susceptible to environmental crime such as illegal logging, wildlife crime and illegal mining. The low risks and high profits associated with environmental crime have attracted organised criminal groups in Latin America that have traditionally engaged in illegal drug trafficking. Corruption plays a significant role in enabling and facilitating environmental crime in the region. This includes small-scale bribery of government bureaucrats, issuing of fraudulent permits, racketeering and grand corruption. Despite strong environmental laws and policies in Latin America, their implementation to curtail environmental crime remains poor in many countries. Evidence shows that corruption has undermined investigations, led to the selective application of laws and interference in police work, and to the disappearance of court evidence. Without effective law enforcement, criminals have inflicted physical violence on indigenous communities, environmental activists and human rights defenders who take a stand against environmental crime."
Comments
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