Wildlife trafficking is a multibillion dollar transnational organized criminal activity and a critical conservation issue. The United States is a leader in the fight against the illicit trade in wildlife and INL plays an important role in the development and implementation of anti-wildlife trafficking policies around the world.
Nearly half of the world’s freshwater turtles and tortoises are at risk of extinction. Tortoises and freshwater turtles are also some of the most heavily trafficked victims of the global exotic pet trade, as well as the trade in meat, shell pieces and other parts and products. Turtles are slow to reach maturity and few of their offspring survive to reproduce, so when they are illegally taken from the wild, it can have devastating consequences on the population for years to come.
Phet has taught Chilean National Police, National Park Rangers, Biologist, & members of the Chilean Judiciary (Prosecutors & Judges) at the Ashland Lab, Wildlife Crime Scene Investigations at International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Bangkok, TH, and part of the US delegate to CITES SC70 in Sochi, RU and CITES COP 18 in Geneva, CH. Phet has participated as a technical expert in the Counter Wildlife Trafficking country assessments for Cambodia, Thailand & Laos.