Foreword Copy

Due to its strategic location in Southeast Asia, Thailand has become a major transit hub for illegal wildlife products. With an estimated value of over 20 billion dollars a year, wildlife crime is the fourth most lucrative global crime in the world after drugs, trafficking in persons and illegal smuggling of weapons; and has therefore become a VERY serious crime. The Illegal wildlife trade not only threatens biodiversity, undermines global and regional security, the rule of law and efforts to end extreme poverty, but it is also pushing many species such as elephants, pangolins, rhinos and tigers, to the brink of extinction. 

While Thailand is continually working to strengthen its legal and policy framework to more effectively address wildlife crime, the expectation is that the number of prosecutions and convictions of wildlife criminals will increase accordingly. However, as there are many legislative pieces involved in the prosecution of wildlife crime, the Office of the Attorney General believes that even though this Rapid Reference Guide does not cover all offenses related to this kind of crime, this important tool will help investigators and prosecutors to conduct criminal proceedings against the criminals in one way or another. 

With support from the United States Government, the Office of the Attorney General is proud to have taken part with many Thai agencies in producing this Rapid Reference Guide which will serve its mandate to administer criminal justice, enforce the law, and pursue organizational excellence in the fight against this scourge. It represents a useful tool for use at both national and provincial levels. 

Dr. Chatchom Akapin 

Director General 

International Affairs Department 

The Office of Attorney General