Dr. Naomi Doak, Wildlife Conservation Society at the FCAP Batch in Bangkok in June 2023

Naomi Doak, PhD, Regional Coordinator Counter Wildlife Trafficking, Greater Mekong and South Asia, Wildlife Conservation Society interacted with participants of the Fintelekt Certified AML/CFT Professional (FCAP) training programme held in Bangkok on June 8th and 9th, 2023.

Dr. Naomi discussed the risks from illegal wildlife trafficking (IWT), recent trends and typologies and some of the tools at the disposal of anti-financial crime professionals in counter-wildlife trafficking responses. She answered a number of questions around the role of banks and financial institutions, red flag indicators that could be used,

Disambiguating wildlife trafficking transactions from other illegal transactions is very challenging for financial institutions, owing to its links with transnational organised crime. However, given the size and scale of the problem in East Asia, coupled with low risks for perpetrators, Dr. Naomi stressed that there is an urgent need to mobilize resources and collaborate to improve detection and prevention of illegal wildlife trafficking.

Aside from Dr. Naomi, FCAP participants were addressed by Ms. Supranee Satitchaicharoen, Director, Cooperation and Standard Development Division, Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Thailand, who provided a background of the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and its activities, and the expectations that it has from its reporting entities, which are common across most countries.

The trainers also included Mr. T. R. Hariharan, Trainer, Fintelekt and a senior experienced banker and subject matter expert on AML/CFT/FCC.