http://www.unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2723&ArticleID=9576
Nearly USD 40 million worth of timber has been seized in follow up
investigations as part of INTERPOL's Operation Lead targeting illegal logging,
forestcrimes and the criminal networks behind them.
Building upon the initial outcomes of the operation, Costa Rica and
Venezuela in particular haveincreased their efforts in the fight against
illegallogging, confiscating 292,000 m3 of wood and wood products - equivalent
to 19,500 truckloads - during follow-up investigations and
operations.Venezuelaaccounted for nearly two-thirds of the total, with 188,000
m3 of wood seized in a single month.
Law enforcement agencies in the two countries conducted intelligence
gathering to identify locations where illegal logging was occurring,
transportationroutes and the criminals involved in all phases of the process.Using
this intelligence, authorities carried out operations at logging camps,
sawmills andtransportation corridors.
Project Leaf is a consortium initiative led by INTERPOL, with the United
Nations Environment Programme and with the financial support of the
NorwegianAgency for Development Cooperation. The project supports countries in
tackling illegal logging and forestry crime, which undermine attempts to
implementnational and international forest protection policies and sustainable
forestry practices.
