Convergent Crimes

Illicit online trade refers to the buying, selling, and advertising of illegal goods and services—including wildlife, firearms, and fraudulent documents—through digital platforms such as social media, e-commerce sites, and messaging apps. In the Caribbean, online spaces are increasingly used to facilitate the illegal trade in live animals, exotic pets, and wildlife products, often with little oversight or detection. These platforms enable traffickers to reach broader markets, conceal identities, and coordinate transactions with speed and discretion.

The rise of illicit online trade presents new challenges for wildlife enforcement by shifting illegal activity into virtual spaces where monitoring is limited and laws are often outdated or difficult to apply. It undermines the rule of law by enabling anonymous transactions and expanding access to illegal wildlife products. This trade also contributes to biodiversity loss and animal welfare violations, as species are removed from the wild and sold in poor or dangerous conditions. For communities, the rapid growth of online trade can increase public health risks and erode trust in digital platforms and institutions.

As illicit online trade becomes a more prominent enabler of wildlife crime in the region, there is a growing need for updated legislation, improved digital surveillance tools, and regional capacity building. Collaborative efforts between enforcement agencies, tech companies, and civil society will be critical to identifying, tracking, and shutting down illegal online activity linked to environmental harm.