The increased sophistication of today's criminals, and their ability to mask their activities, makes identifying and dismantling organized criminal groups very difficult. Information that will help uncover this criminal activity, or identify those who are involved in it, is critically important to law enforcement.
That is why, on January 15th, President Obama signed legislation authorizing the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. It is a key element of the President’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, because it gives the Secretary of State statutory authority to offer rewards for information that helps dismantle transnational criminal organizations, identify or locate key leaders, disrupt financial mechanisms, and lead to the arrest or conviction of members and leaders who operate outside the United States.
On November 13, Secretary of State John Kerry announced the State Department’s first-ever reward for information leading to the dismantling of a transnational criminal organization, for the Xaysavang Network: a transnational crime syndicate that facilities wildlife trafficking and the killing of endangered animals.
As Secretary Kerry said in a written statement, “The involvement of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations in wildlife trafficking perpetuates corruption, threatens the rule of law and border security in fragile regions, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and eco-tourism.
Profits from wildlife trafficking, estimated at $8 to $10 billion per year, fund other illicit activities such as narcotics, arms, and human trafficking.”
The United States Department of State is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network.
The Xaysavang Network is based in Laos and has affiliates in South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Its activities facilitate the killing of endangered elephants, rhinos, and other species for products such as ivory. “Several major seizures of illegal wildlife products have been linked to the Xaysavang Network,” said Secretary Kerry.
If you have information on the Xaysavang Network, including its members or its illegal activities, contact the rewards hotline in Laos at 856 21 219565, or email at T-O-C-R-P-Xaysavang@state.gov. The United States will ensure confidentiality to individuals who provide information on transnational criminals, and, if appropriate, will relocate these individuals and their families. Rewards and amounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
That is why, on January 15th, President Obama signed legislation authorizing the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. It is a key element of the President’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, because it gives the Secretary of State statutory authority to offer rewards for information that helps dismantle transnational criminal organizations, identify or locate key leaders, disrupt financial mechanisms, and lead to the arrest or conviction of members and leaders who operate outside the United States.
If you have information on the Xaysavang Network, including its members or its illegal activities, contact the rewards hotline in Laos at
856 21 219565, or
email at T-O-C-R-P-Xaysavang@state.gov.
As Secretary Kerry said in a written statement, “The involvement of sophisticated transnational criminal organizations in wildlife trafficking perpetuates corruption, threatens the rule of law and border security in fragile regions, and destabilizes communities that depend on wildlife for biodiversity and eco-tourism.
Profits from wildlife trafficking, estimated at $8 to $10 billion per year, fund other illicit activities such as narcotics, arms, and human trafficking.”
The United States Department of State is offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the dismantling of the Xaysavang Network.
The Xaysavang Network is based in Laos and has affiliates in South Africa, Mozambique, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. Its activities facilitate the killing of endangered elephants, rhinos, and other species for products such as ivory. “Several major seizures of illegal wildlife products have been linked to the Xaysavang Network,” said Secretary Kerry.
If you have information on the Xaysavang Network, including its members or its illegal activities, contact the rewards hotline in Laos at 856 21 219565, or email at T-O-C-R-P-Xaysavang@state.gov. The United States will ensure confidentiality to individuals who provide information on transnational criminals, and, if appropriate, will relocate these individuals and their families. Rewards and amounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
