Da Nang, March 25-26, 2019 --
Representatives from Customs of Viet Nam and Cambodia and Cambodian National Police met to discuss cross-border collaboration to combat wildlife trafficking in a two-day meeting in Da Nang, Viet Nam on 25-26 March. The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to share information on the roles of each agency, typical cases of cross-border wildlife trafficking, and sophisticated tactics of traders, highlighting that intelligence sharing between Customs and Police of Cambodia and Viet Nam will increase the effectiveness of authorities’ actions against illegal activities related to wildlife. Viet Nam’s custom officers emphasised that they would review and update collaboration their procedures and focal contacts, as well as promoting counter wildlife trafficking as a high priority issue for their agency. The meeting also highlighted the need for improved national and international inter-agency coordination and strengthened cross-border collaboration to allow in-depth investigations of wildlife trafficking. This technical meeting between Viet Nam and Cambodia on strengthening cross-border collaboration to combat wildlife trafficking was carried out with the support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State and was funded by the UK Government through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.