United Arab Emirates Wildlife Trafficking Assessment
Known trafficking instances along UAE air routes between 2015 and 2019 primarily involved shipments of ivory (53%), rhino horn (14%), and birds (13%) transiting through the country.
UAE ivory trafficking instances, which frequently originated in Nigeria or Zimbabwe and were destined for Asia, were primarily transported on the passenger’s person. In recent years, known air trafficking instances associated with the UAE have been characterized by an increase in rhino horn seizures, primarily originating in South Africa and Angola. The total annual weight of rhino horn seized along UAE air routes increased from fewer than 25 kg in 2017 to over 250 kg in 2019. Air freight was the most commonly reported transport method for bird trafficking instances, which consisted exclusively of live falcons.
ROUTES_Assessment_UAE.pdf
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