Newsroom
EUBAM trains Moldovan Customs Service to Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade
22.06.2023
On 22 June, our customs expert Irinel Surugiu provided a training session for 27 officers from the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
CITES is a global agreement among governments to regulate or ban international trade in wild animals and plants under threat. Currently, more than 35 000 specimens are listed there, and with some of them, all transactions are prohibited, but some can be bought and sold based on a permit.
The illegal trade in rare animals and plants is highly profitable, pushing many endangered species to extinction. Therefore, for any customs officer, it is essential to learn about the species that are listed as endangered to protect threatened species better by regulating and monitoring their trade.
The specially designed course by EUBAM will help officers identify and process CITES-listed wild animals and plants in the future. It also advised customs officials on dealing with confiscated specimens and health and safety issues. The event was also related to the CITES-protected animals and plants in Moldova and the illegal trends here, specifically fighting against the illicit trade in black caviar and sturgeon products.
Every person can come into contact with endangered species daily, this includes furs, cosmetics, products used in folk medicine, pets, plants, and food (e.g., fish roe, shark fins). The fate of endangered animals and plants depends on each person. A poacher hunts only when there is a demand for the prey. Thus, we, as consumers, also have a great responsibility.
