AML Research Centre Asia Pacific - ARCAP

Day 2 (28 May 2026, Makati Philippines): From Awareness to Action — Following the Money Behind Wildlife Crime 🐾💸🌿**

Day 2 of the Financial Sector Workshop on Wildlife Crime and Financial Investigations continued the momentum with another engaging round of discussions, practical learning, and meaningful exchanges among financial sector participants.

The sessions deepened the conversation on how banks, money service businesses, pawnshops, remittance companies, fintech/technology firms, and other covered persons can help detect financial activities linked to illegal wildlife trade and environmental crimes.

Participants explored practical AML tools — from customer due diligence and transaction monitoring to suspicious transaction indicators, STR documentation, and institutional response measures. The discussions reinforced a key message: wildlife crime may happen in forests, seas, ports, markets, and online spaces — but its money trail often passes through the financial system.

Day 2 also highlighted the importance of stronger coordination, better red flag detection, improved reporting, and continuing capacity-building for this emerging AML risk area.

Thank you to all Day 2 participants for the energy, insights, questions, and commitment. Together, we strengthen the financial sector’s role in protecting both our financial system and our natural resources.

Day 1 (27 May 2026, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati): FINANCIAL SECTOR WORKSHOP ON WILDLIFE CRIME AND FINANCIAL INVESTIGATIONS 🐢🦅🌿

Day 1 of the Financial Sector Workshop on Wildlife Crime and Financial Investigations brought together compliance officers, AML analysts, bank officers, auditors, and financial sector representatives for a different kind of AML conversation — one that connected money laundering risks with wildlife trafficking and environmental crime.

Held in Makati City, the workshop explored how illegal wildlife trade leaves financial footprints through bank transfers, remittances, e-wallets, online platforms, courier services, and other formal channels. Participants learned how AML tools such as customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, adverse media screening, red flag identification, and STR reporting can help detect and disrupt illicit financial flows behind wildlife crime.

From expert discussions to practical case examples and open forum exchanges, Day 1 showed that wildlife crime is not only an environmental issue — it is also a financial crime concern.

The energy in the room was excellent, the discussions were engaging, and as one participant perfectly put it: “Brain and tummy full.” 😄

Thank you to all Day 1 participants for your active engagement, thoughtful questions, and commitment to strengthening the financial sector’s role in protecting both the financial system and our natural resources.

Strengthening the First Line of Defense Against Wildlife Crime 🐘🦅🌿

Last May 2026, TRAFFIC and the AML Research Centre Asia Pacific (ARCAP), with support from the U.S. Government through INL, gathered financial sector representatives in Makati City for an engaging workshop on wildlife crime and financial investigations.

The session reminded everyone that behind illegal wildlife trade are money trails, criminal networks, and suspicious transactions waiting to be detected. Through discussions, case studies, and interactive activities, participants explored how banks, MSBs, EMIs, DNFBPs, and other covered persons can help follow the money, strengthen financial intelligence, and protect both the financial system and our natural resources.

Thank you to all participants for the energy, insights, and commitment to making the financial sector a stronger partner in the fight against wildlife trafficking and environmental crime.

Strengthening the First Line of Defense Against Wildlife Crime

TRAFFIC and the AML Research Centre Asia Pacific (ARCAP) were honored to facilitate the Financial Sector Workshop on Wildlife Crime and Financial Investigations held on 27 and 28 May 2026 in Makati City, with support from the U.S. Government through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

The workshop highlighted the critical role of financial institutions in detecting, disrupting, and reporting financial activities linked to wildlife trafficking and other environmental crimes. By combining traditional law enforcement efforts with financial intelligence and AML tools, stakeholders can better identify criminal networks and follow the money behind illicit wildlife trade.

Thank you to all participants for their active engagement and commitment to protecting both the financial system and our natural resources.

27 & 28 May 2026, In-Person AML Training, Free

Venue: Holiday Inn & Suites Makati by IHG (near Glorietta Mall Makati)

👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPaQzN6L_E_-nRGTZ3Qly9H4zi48xWKOuLBzaU5H_T5RP3Q/viewform

🚨 Is your institution unknowingly facilitating wildlife crime?
Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar illicit industry—and financial systems are often used to move and conceal its proceeds.

This exclusive session will equip compliance, legal, and financial crime professionals with the tools to:
✅ Identify wildlife crime financial typologies
✅ Detect red flags in transactions
✅ Strengthen STR reporting
✅ Support law enforcement investigations
✅ Apply AML frameworks to real-world case scenarios

💡 Learn how your role can directly contribute to disrupting environmental crime and protecting biodiversity.

👥 Who should join?
Compliance officers, AML analysts, legal teams, and financial crime professionals from the Money Service Business (MSB) sector

📅 Limited slots available for the 27 and 28 May 2026 training – secure your participation now!

27 & 28 May 2026, In-Person AML Training, Free

* Two-session run (same content, delivered on two separate days)

Venue: Holiday Inn & Suites Makati by IHG (near Glorietta Mall Makati)

🚨 Is your institution unknowingly facilitating wildlife crime?

Wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar illicit industry—and financial systems are often used to move and conceal its proceeds.

📣 TRAFFIC and the AML Research Centre Asia Pacific (ARCAP) invite you to a 1-Day Financial Sector Workshop on:

🦅 Wildlife Crime Through an AML Lens

This exclusive session will equip compliance, legal, and financial crime professionals with the tools to:

✅ Identify wildlife crime financial typologies
✅ Detect red flags in transactions
✅ Strengthen STR reporting
✅ Support law enforcement investigations
✅ Apply AML frameworks to real-world case scenarios

💡 Learn how your role can directly contribute to disrupting environmental crime and protecting biodiversity.

👥 Who should join?
Compliance officers, AML analysts, legal teams, and financial crime professionals from the Money Service Business (MSB) sector

📅 Limited slots available for the 27 and 28 May 2026 training – secure your participation now!

👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpPaQzN6L_E_-nRGTZ3Qly9H4zi48xWKOuLBzaU5H_T5RP3Q/viewform

Pre-Registration Form for Financial Sector Workshop on Wildlife Crime

16-17 July 2024 "Financial Investigation on Illegal Wildlife Trade" training photos.

59 participants from the DENR Regional Offices, PCSD, Law Enforcement Agencies (PNP-MG, NBI), BOC, DOJ-NPS, and the private sector attended the sessions in order to enhance cooperation between these sectors and prevent wildlife trade-linked illicit financial flows.

16 to 17 July 2024 (Quezon City, Philippines):

The Anti-Money Laundering Council, (AMLC), TRAFFIC International Southeast Asia and AML Research Center Asia Pacific (ARCAP) Inc. will jointly organize and run a “Financial Investigation” training to strengthen Philippines’ engagement and capacity to investigate, arrest and sentence perpetrators of wildlife crime through an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) lens and by advocating follow-the-money principles.

Around 50 professionals from key Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), government prosecution service, and relevant Money Service Businesses (MSBs) are expected to participate in order to enhance cooperation between these sectors and prevent wildlife trade-linked illicit financial flows.

ARCAP's official website (www.aml-research.org) is now active. You may also reach us through our email address: [email protected]