International law enforcement cooperation leads to detention of illegally exporterted timer from Peru

Organisation: INTERPOL

A shipment of illegal timber left Peru on the vessel Yacu Kallpa in 2015. INTERPOL coordinated law enforcement authorities in the source country Peru, transit countries in Latin America and the final destination, the US.

The operation was successful, as Mexican authorities detained the timber and an investigation concerning those responsible for the illegal shipment is ongoing in Peru.

Result: Vessel loaded with illegal Peruvian timber detained in Mexico

In 2015, an environmental non-governmental organisation based in Peru provided information to INTERPOL about the vessel Yacu Kallpa loaded with illegal timber.

Through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Peru, Peruvian authorities confirmed this information as they identified over 90% of the timber loaded onto the vessel as illegal. The load however, was bound for the US, and the Peruvian authorities were unable to seize the timber or otherwise prevent the vessel from leaving Peruvian territory.

Upon request, INTERPOL supported the Peruvian authorities by coordinating an international law enforcement operation to track and monitor Yacu Kallpa. The vessel passed through a number of transit countries in South America and the Caribbean, en route to Mexico and the US.

INTERPOL facilitated the exchange of information in real-time between the National Central Bureau in Peru and the relevant transit countries. The operation was successful, as Mexican authorities detained the timber.

Investigations are ongoing in Peru concerning those responsible for the illegal shipment. The load when leaving Peru consisted of 1,2 million cubic metres illegal timber, which is an equivalent of more than 480 Olympic swimming pools. The value of the load is estimated to almost half a million US dollars.

This is an example of how INTERPOL contributes to sending a signal to the criminal networks behind trafficking of illegal timber, which ultimately will help to shut down illegal timber supply chains.

Why: Illegal logging has detrimental consequences

Timber and timber products contribute significantly to developing countries’ economies. In spite of having necessary laws in place, illegal logging prevails in Peru.

The illicit activity does not only have widespread environmental and societal consequences, but the financial impact is also significant. The Peruvian government loses more than USD 250 million dollars annually due to the crime, which equals 1.5 times the total value of its legal timber exports according to estimations.

Most of that illegal timber is exported, and there is a need to cooperate with other countries to seize the illegal shipment and close down illegal networks.

What: Assisting transboundary law enforcement operations

Project Leaf contributes to improving law enforcement capacity and effectiveness of operations to tackle illegal logging and forestry crime. INTERPOL does this by strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies and providing secure networks for exchanging intelligence.