ACAMS and WWF Launch Japanese Version of Illegal Wildlife Trade Certificate Program
Free certificate to educate Japanese AFC professionals on financial-crime risks tied to wildlife trafficking
MIAMI, Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to help financial institutions and other stakeholders fight a major transnational organized crime linked to the spread of corruption and degradation of global biodiversity, ACAMS has teamed up with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to offer a new Japanese translation of its free-of-charge training certificate, Ending Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Comprehensive Overview. First launched by ACAMS and WWF in October 2020, the social-impact program trains anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals on how to identify and investigate the financial activity of criminal syndicates engaged in the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), which generates an estimated $23 billion in illicit proceeds annually.
Participants in the IWT program will learn the complex methodologies used by criminals to elude import-export checks and anti-money laundering programs, including through the exploitation of front companies, shell firms, online marketplaces, real estate, prepaid cards, mobile apps, and other payment systems. The certificate, which offers guidance on identifying IWT-related risks and red flags, is designed to educate and support professionals involved in AFC work at financial institutions, supervisory bodies, law enforcement agencies, and nongovernmental organizations, among others.
The launch of the Japanese translation comes in response to calls by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for governments, banks, and other institutions to step up their efforts to track and report money laundering tied to IWT syndicates. Despite the role that illicit wildlife trafficking plays in fueling corruption, undermining environmental sustainability, and weakening the integrity of the global financial system, nations rarely investigate the finances of IWT groups, FATF noted in a June 2020 report.
“The illegal wildlife trade is an inherently international problem that requires a global response, not least because the crime has consequences that extend far beyond any national borders,” said ACAMS CEO Scott Liles. “That’s why we’re proud to support AFC professionals in Japan who are seeking to identify financial activity associated with the trafficking of exotic pets, ivory, tortoise shells, and other IWT challenges highlighted by Japanese authorities in recent years.”
“Our partnership with WWF has made clear that this is a critical fight for the future of our planet, and it’s one in which AFC professionals can play a fundamental role,” he said. “By supporting governments and financial institutions that wish to do more to prevent environmental crime, we’re helping to mitigate corruption, limit the spread of zoonotic diseases, safeguard global trade and finance, and save lives.”