Bringing intelligence and social network analysis together to fight illegal wildlife trade: lessons for policymakers and practitioners

This policy brief explains how intelligence practitioners within law enforcement authorities and researchers skilled in social network analysis (SNA) can and should cooperate better in the fight against illegal wildlife trade (IWT). Intelligence data are crucial for SNA researchers to conduct empirical analysis of illicit activities and dark networks. In turn, these research results can fruitfully feed back into investigations and further intelligence work. The combined effect of research and intelligence can have positive effects on the fight against IWT, and these effects are larger than the simple sum of their components. Policymakers and stakeholders who wish to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the fight against IWT and other environmental crimes are advised to promote the systematic cooperation between intelligence practitioners and researchers, in a way that both communities can maximise the benefits of this synergetic strategy.