Wildlife crime has emerged in recent years as one of the top four international crimes, representing tens of billions of dollars per year and ranking alongside smuggling of drugs, weapons and human slaves. As the price of products made from endangered and protected species has increased, organized crime networks and terrorist organizations have entered this trans-boundary trade. These products include carved ivory, traditional medicines such as powdered rhino horn and lion bone, 'bushmeat' for consumption and religious rituals, exotic pets, leather goods and rare plants valued by landscape designers. To evade detection and prosecution, smugglers have learned how to make it virtually impossible to identify the species of origin by removing the diagnostic morphological features that experts can use to identify the contraband products. Only the DNA in the product can bear witness to the species of Drigin.
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