Programs
The Environmental Crimes Program
The Environmental Crimes Program seeks to defend natural resources from degradation due to illicit activities and actively pursues civil penalties and criminal charges against individuals, businesses, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) which profit from these types of crimes. The program is actively engaged in a wide variety of enforcement activities in support of these objectives including interdiction of banned pesticides, ozone depleting substances, and non-compliant vehicles and machinery, as well as the investigation of illegal waste transportation and certain crimes stemming from illegal mining of precious metals.
The Forestry Crimes Program
The Forestry Crimes Program supports the fight against illegal logging from the level of individual poaching events to massive, industrial-scale deforestation around the world enabled by corruption and organized crime. Sometimes referred to as ILAT (Illegal Logging and Associated Trade), illegal timber frequently travels from remote forests across the planet through a series of complex logistical and financial transactions before being sold to unsuspecting end users in the U.S. and abroad. HSI’s expertise in cross-border financial investigations and customs fraud makes HSI a critical partner in this important field.
The Marine Life Crimes Program
The Marine Life Crimes Program seeks to target the diverse criminal schemes perpetrated by transnational criminal organizations involved in the illicit acquisition, transportation, and sale of marine species, as well as the associated illicit financial activity. This program, through the use of HSI’s expansive investigative authorities and international footprint, collaborates with stakeholders engaged in disrupting the demand for ill-gotten marine species that contribute to both environmental and economic damage.
The Wildlife Crimes Program
The Wildlife Crimes Program combats the illegal importation and exportation of wildlife in contravention of federal, state, local, tribal, or foreign law. The program defends U.S. and international fauna populations by capitalizing on HSI’s exclusive enforcement powers and wide-ranging authorities, at and beyond the border, to investigate incidents of transnational or cross-border wildlife crimes. The program further relies on relationships with other governmental and non-governmental organizations, academia, and other stakeholders to build upon the vital mission of wildlife conservation and the targeting of individuals and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) who seek to threaten that mission.