Crime script analysis of elephant ivory trafficking in East Africa

Abstract Purpose Ivory trafficking remains a persistent transnational crime globally, and especially, in East Africa, driven by organized networks that exploit regulatory loopholes, corruption, and porous borders. Crime science perspectives have largely been ignored in examining ivory trafficking and this study addresses this gap in knowledge. Methods This study employs crime script analysis to systematically deconstruct the modus operandi of ivory traffickers, outlining and detailing the steps taken to prepare, transport and smuggle ivory from source to demand countries. To achieve this goal, this research focuses on the most culpable actors in trafficking and in the period of the highest recorded trafficking activities. This study uses data from twenty (20) prosecuted criminal cases drawn from three countries in East African and relating to at least forty-one (41) tons of illegal ivory. Results Traffickers prepare by obtaining ivory from poachers and storing them is storage facilities passing off as legitimate businesses; falsify export documents, bribe customs officials, disguise ivory as legitimate export or obfuscate it in hidden or modified cargo compartments to secure successful exportation. The findings indicate that traffickers are highly organized with a wide range of actors enabling their criminality and their actions often converges with a variety of other major and serious crimes. Conclusions This study identifies critical intervention points where law enforcement and policy measures can disrupt trafficking networks and proposes various recommendations for policy and practice.