Latin America expands legal framework against environmental crimes

Environmental crimes, such as illegal deforestation and illegal fishing, are the fourth most lucrative criminal activity, generating between $110 billion and $281 billion in annual illicit revenues globally in 2018. Countries such as France and Belgium have implemented legal frameworks to combat these low-risk, high-profit crimes. In Latin America, rich in biodiversity and mineral resources, significant steps are being taken to dismantle transnational criminal networks, applying harsher economic sanctions and establishing criminal liability for offenders.