Report on illegal trafficking and international legal trade in wildlife from Galapagos

TRAFFIC’s report, Illegal Trafficking and International Legal Trade in Wildlife from Galapagos, identifies these species as primary targets for international trafficking, often destined for the exotic pet trade. Records from CITES further reveal international transactions involving Galápagos giant tortoises, including exports reported by non-range States. 

One of the most serious risks identified is the alleged “laundering” of wild-caught iguanas which are illegally captured and traded, then laundered in countries outside their natural range through captive-breeding facilities, which can provide a legal cover for exporting protected reptiles. With its inclusion in Appendix I during the CITES COP20, regulations become stricter: commercial trade in wild-sourced specimens is prohibited, and the registration of breeding facilities and verification of the legal origin of “founder stock” are required in order to trade captive-bred specimens for commercial purposes, reinforcing the need for rigorous controls to prevent these types of practices. 

Galápagos has become a key area for wildlife trafficking… Protecting Galápagos from wildlife trafficking requires a strong and coordinated response that goes beyond national borders, combining the leadership of the Ecuadorian State with sustained and active commitment from the international community.”

says Karen Noboa, Project Officer at TRAFFIC.

How trafficking can happen in the islands 

Researchers point to systemic conditions that enable trafficking, including regulatory gaps, operational constraints for enforcement, and weak coordination between agencies tackling illegal wildlife trade creating opportunities for traffickers to operate undetected. 

They warn that these weaknesses allow trafficking networks to exploit the system, with impacts that go beyond biodiversity loss, affecting local livelihoods, fuelling organised crime, and undermining tourism, the islands’ main economic pillar. 

The report describes how traffickers take advantage of transport routes- tourists, cargo, and mail moving through ports and airports- to conceal illegal specimens. 

By mapping weak points across this “supply chain,” authorities can strengthen controls at key exit points such as ports and airports and improve coordination between agencies to prevent protected wildlife from leaving the archipelago. 

What the report recommends 

• Update wildlife crime chain-of-custody procedures so they work in real-world port and airport operations.  

• Improve information sharing between enforcement and environmental authorities.  

• Strengthen anti-corruption measures at key transport hubs.  

• Build investigative and intelligence capacity to identify and disrupt international trafficking networks.  

• Improve traceability and oversight of international trade under CITES, including scrutiny of Galápagos iguanas reported as “captive-bred”.  

• Develop clearer rules for ex-situ conservation of giant tortoises.