If someone mentions criminal gangs, you might think of drug trafficking or financial crime. But one of the most persistent illegal trades in the world flies largely under the radar: wildlife smuggling.
The illegal wildlife trade drains plants and animals from their ecosystems and fuels organised crime. Australia is now considered a global hotspot for reptile smuggling. Enforcement agencies scramble to answer the most basic question — has an animal been taken from the wild? In courtrooms, that question often determines whether a prosecution succeeds or falls apart.
