Environmental Crime Typologies

Environmental crime is a significant transnational threat that generates illicit proceeds through activities such as illegal wildlife trade, illicit oil trade, illegal mining, and other forms of natural resource exploitation. As a predicate offence to money laundering, these activities may involve complex financial and trade-based schemes to conceal and move illicit funds.

The UAE Financial Intelligence Unit conducted a strategic analysis of environmental crime-related data covering the period from 2019 to 2025, with the participation of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP). The analysis identified illegal wildlife trade as the most prevalent typology, followed by illicit oil trade and illegal mining activities, and provides reporting entities with key risk indicators to support enhanced detection and reporting of environmental crime and associated money laundering activities.

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