Taking wildlife smugglers to tusk: Singapore gives teeth to fight with new anti-trafficking laws

SINGAPORE took a big step last week in tackling wildlife trafficking by amending its laws to classify such offences as serious, organised crimes – a move that advocacy groups have applauded for the strong signal it sends to crime syndicates.

Enforcement agencies here now can go “as deep as needed” to reach individuals and companies “higher up in the (syndicate) structure”, said Elke Biechele, member of the Singapore Wildcat Action Group. These are individuals and groups who make significant profits from large and transnational illicit wildlife trade operations.

People’s Action Party MP Louis Ng, who has been calling for the amendments since 2021, noted that the latest move gives law enforcement greater power and “more teeth” to not just nab the runners, but to go after kingpins as well.