This document outlines Uganda Revenue Authority's experience with implementing CITES through customs enforcement. It discusses URA's participation in international CITES operations since 2011. It also describes key principles of CITES enforcement including training, experience through a specialized desk, and commitment. The document proposes establishing an inter-agency CITES enforcement task force and developing terms of reference and a memorandum of cooperation. It provides an overview of customs presence nationwide and guidelines for CITES enforcement, including intelligence, risk profiling, targeting, search and seizure procedures, evidence handling, and post-seizure referrals.

1. Role of Customs in implementing CITES in Uganda; Case studies & URA’s experience in Illegal Wild life
trade
A presentation to the National Wildlife Crime Coordination Taskforce
By Douglas Kabagambe
Customs Intelligence
10/07/2019

2. Outline;
 CITES Enforcement history at Customs
 Customs Presence
 CITES desk – Seizures
 Principles
 Staff Capacity
 New Recruits Training
 Joint investigations
 Container Control Programme
 Statistics & Data Storage
 Intelligence information and illegal Wildlife Trade
 Proposed CITES Enforcement Inter-Agency Taskforce
 Memorandum of Cooperation
 Terms Of Reference

3. CITES Enforcement history at Customs
 Participated WCO CITES Operations from 2011
Ugandan customs actively participated in WCO CITES operations that include;
 GAPIN I (24th January 2011 -6th Feb 2011).
 Operation Hope (22nd to 31st October 2012).
 Operation Save REP (2017)
 Operation Praesedio (4 February 2019 and 3 March 2019)
 Operation Thuderball (2nd June to 30th June 2019)
 The WCO - INAMA project
 A CITES desk within Customs Intelligence was created to coordinate capacity buildings, share
information and enhance Interagency cooperation
 Container Control Programme – JPCU operations already established in Kampala dry port where
multi-agency staff were deployed to profile, target and inspect containers suspected of illicit trade

4. Benefits of Participating in CITES operations
 TACTICAL
• Improve the knowledge of the illegal international trade in wildlife
• Establish a proper Mechanism for information exchange.
• Identify more accurate risk indicators regarding this illegal activity.
• Develop specific risk profiles for effective targeting.
• Identify and apprehend operators involved in the trafficking of wildlife.

5. Operational
• Detect, intercept and seize illegal shipments of wildlife.
• Initiate and execute controlled deliveries.
• Create conditions for proper follow-up actions (i.e. investigations and prosecutions).
• Arrest operators involved in the illegal international trade in wildlife.
• Improve operational cooperation between Customs and environmental agencies
and police on the ground.
• Improve the knowledge that Customs has of the illegal international trade in wildlife.

6. The implementation of CITES is
anchored on 3 major Principals
• TRAINING (CAPACITY BUILDING)
• EXPERIENCE(SPECIALISED DESK)
• COMMITMENT

7. STAFF CAPACITY
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
CITES APPENDICES I,II,III
CITES RELATED DOCUMENTS AND RELATED
FRAUD
RISK ANALYSIS
CONCEALMENT TECHNIQUES THRU AIR
CARGO,POSTAL AND CONTAINERISED CARGO

8. STAFF CAPACITY cont’d
 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
 INTERVIEW AND INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES
 INVESTIGATIVE TOOLS AND METHODS
 OPERATIONAL PLANNING
 SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES
 FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION
 SEARCH TECHNIQUE
 CRIME SCENE/EVIDENCE COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
 CONTROLLED DELIVERIES

9. Total Tax Person (induction Course for
new recruits )
Will include introductory Topics to CITES;
• What is CITES ? How it Works ?
• Appendices I,II ,II
• Identification of Species & Concealments
Developing lessons for one hour a week , and for 6 months )

10. CUSTOMS PRESENCE
• Customs presence country wide
• In over 36 operational stations
• 10 in northern Uganda , 15 in western
• & south western Uganda,
• 8 in Eastern Uganda
• 3 operational teams in Kampala

11. CUSTOMS EXPORT CONTRABAND DECLARATION FORM
CITES PROTECTED SPECIES, AND ANY PROHIBITED /RESTRICTED
GOODS UNDER THE EACCMA
Bill of Lading/Airway Bill number ………………………Destination …………
Carrier Airline or Vessel …………………………………………………………….
This Consignment declared to customs DOES NOT contain any
prohibited or restricted item under the EACCMA (2004).
On behalf of the consignee I undersign to the best of my knowledge
that the shipment conforms to the purpose of declaration.
Agents name …………………………………. Telephone number ………………….
Signature ………………………………………… date ……………………
National ID number ……………………………
Shipper’s Name …………………………Telephone number ……………
Signature …………………………………………………………………….

12. FORW ARD
This CITES Enforcement Handbook has
been developed in collaboration with the
World Customs Organization (WCO),
under the auspices of the WCO INAMA
Project.
It is intended to provide an over view and
standardized guidelines of CITES
Enforcement for Uganda Revenue
Authority officials and other key
stakeholdersmandated to counter wildlife
trafficking in Uganda.
This manual shall cover the management of CITES guidelines including Risk Management,
Targeting, Examination, Detection, Seizures, Storage, Referral, Investigations and Prosecution
and shall be applied alongside the Customs Business Process Manual and Departmental
Instruction.
Officers are enjoined to adhere to the procedural requirements provided for in this manual
and management is required to ensure that the procedures are applied in a uniform and
consistent manual.
This is a living document are will be reviewed on a regular basis and will be revised whenever
deemed necessary.
Assistant Commissioner Enforcement
Customs Department, Uganda Revenue Authority

13. Table of Contents
Document Design, Reviews and Approvals.........................................................................................................2
Brief Facts about Uganda:.........................................................................................................................................3
FORW ARD ...............................................................................................................................4
CH APTER ON E .......................................................................................................................6
1.0 Background............................................................................................................................................................6
1.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................................................6
1.2 What is CITES...........................................................................................................................................6
1.3 CITESAppendices....................................................................................................................................7
1.4 CITESPermits...........................................................................................................................................8
CH APTER TW O ....................................................................................................................11
H istory of CITES in Uganda..................................................................................................11
2.1 History of Customs Cites Enforcement in Uganda........................................................................11
2.2 CITESMandates in Uganda..................................................................................................................11
2.3 Establishment and Roles of the CITESEnforcement Inter-Agency Task Forc........................11
2.4 Legislation.................................................................................................................................................12
CH APTER TH REE .................................................................................................................13
CITES Enforcement Guidelines............................................................................................13
3.1 CITESIntelligence...................................................................................................................................13
3.2 Development of Risk Profiles..............................................................................................................14
3.3 CITESRisk Indicators............................................................................................................................14
3.4 CITESEnforcement at Customs Processes.....................................................................................16
3.4.1 Containerized Exports..........................................................................................................................17
3.4.2 Air Cargo (Exports)...............................................................................................................................17
3.4.3 Passengers................................................................................................................................................17
3.4.4 Targeting Imports for CITES...............................................................................................................18
3.4.5 Transits.....................................................................................................................................................18
3.5 Ad Hoc and Joint Operations..............................................................................................................18
3.6 Search & Seizure.....................................................................................................................................19
3.7 Control Delivery....................................................................................................................................19
3.8 Evidence Handling..................................................................................................................................19
3.9 Health and Safety....................................................................................................................................20
CH APTER FOUR...................................................................................................................21
Post Seizure Guidelines.........................................................................................................21
4.1 Referrals....................................................................................................................................................21
4.2 Investigations...........................................................................................................................................21
4.3 Prosecution..............................................................................................................................................21
4.4 Storage......................................................................................................................................................21
4.5 Expert Analysis........................................................................................................................................21
CH APTER FIVE......................................................................................................................22
Chapter Five ...........................................................................................................................22
Inter-Agency Cooperation .....................................................................................................................................22
5.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................22
5.2 Joint Operations.....................................................................................................................................22
5.3 Reporting Structure...............................................................................................................................22
5.4 Roles and Responsibilities....................................................................................................................23
5.5 Communication ......................................................................................................................................23
5.6 Publicity and Awareness.......................................................................................................................24
5.7 Code of Conduct ...................................................................................................................................24
APPEN DICES .........................................................................................................................25
Appendix 1: CITESpermit sample...................................................................................................................25
Appendix 2: Customs Export Contraband Declaration Form..................................................................27
Appendix 3: Health and Safety..........................................................................................................................28
Appendix 4: Uganda Customs CITESSeizure Pictorial...............................................................................29

14. CITES Enforcement
Inter-Agency Task Force
 Cites Enforcement Inter-Agency Task Force Of Uganda to comprise of
 Uganda Revenue Authority
 Uganda Police Force
 Uganda Wildlife Authority
 Other mandated Agencies as will be needed
 Cooperation documents shared for discussion
 Draft for ‘memorandum of Cooperation’
 Draft for terms of Reference
 A draft for CITES enforcement Hand book for law Enforcement Officers

15. DATA , Seizure Management
National Customs Enforcement Network

16. 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Number of Seizures by year
The frequency of the seizures indicates that 2011/2012 had
the highest number of seizures , and that was the Peak of the
illicit trade in Wild life Species.

17. 42%
8%
21%
4%
25%
Percentage seizure by location /means
Air
Courrier
land boarder
Continerised
intelligence
This is an indication that the Racket prefers the fastest means
of transport and the Airport becomes their decisive choice.

18. Seizure of 762psc (3.2 tons) of Elephant Ivory,
432kg Pangolin scales concealed in wood logs
31st Jan 2019
Intelligence information and illegal Wildlife Trade
Concealment

19. Intelligence information and illegal Wildlife Trade
15th August 2017, thru intelligence
information
Egyptian Diplomat nabbed with 06
pieces /65 kgs of ivory at his premises
Diplomatic immunity Revoked
 Last five CITES seizures have been intelligence based
4th January 2018
02 pieces of ivory weighing 38.8 kgs
Seized through intelligence led
operation
Suspect on the run
22nd Jan 2018
03 pieces of ivory weighing 9 kgs
seized through intelligence
information
Suspect arrested and detained in
Luzira ;Case on going

20. More intelligence led seizures
The URA enforcement team on
10th February 2016 thru
Intelligence discovered a load of
153 live tortoises from
Nakapiripirit-tucked in sacks ,
The plan of smugglers was to
export
24/06/2017 Mbale Enforcement
received
Intelligence that an armed police
personnel was escorting ivory

21. THANK YOU