Wildlife Trafficking Law Enforcement

Office of Law Enforcement

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) enforces U.S. laws, regulations, and treaties that protect wildlife and plant resources and works internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally to combat wildlife trafficking.  

Internationally, OLE wildlife law enforcement attachés work in U.S. Embassies to coordinate investigative efforts and provide training and resources to law enforcement officials in other nations. These efforts represent critical components of the global strategy to combat wildlife trafficking and aid investigations into transnational wildlife crime. 

Nationally, OLE provides program oversight, training, forensic analyses, intelligence, policy, and guidance regarding law enforcement matters. OLE’s Special Operations Division consists of several specialized units utilized to enhance criminal wildlife investigations, including the Special Investigations Unit, Wildlife Intelligence Unit, Digital Evidence Recovery and Technical Support Unit, International Operations Unit, and the Training and Development Unit.  

OLE also manages several national facilities, including the Clark R. Bavin National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, National Wildlife Property Repository, and the National Eagle Repository, each serving a unique function in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.  

At the regional and local levels, OLE professionals conduct on-the-ground law enforcement investigations to support prosecutions of wildlife traffickers, inspect and interdict shipments at U.S. ports of entry and provide support for frontline wildlife law enforcement activities. In fiscal year 2022, investigations by OLE Special Agents and partners collected $11.5 million in criminal penalties. OLE also aids in facilitating a legal, sustainable trade in wildlife by inspecting declared and permitted shipment of wildlife products at ports of entry nationwide. Wildlife Inspectors processed over 167,000 declared shipments in fiscal year 2022.  

Refuge Law Enforcement

The Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System Law Enforcement program safeguards America’s wildlife and treasured federal lands and waters throughout the National Wildlife Refuge System.

National Wildlife Refuges are found in all 50 states and U.S. territories. Federal Wildlife Officers of the National Wildlife Refuge System help protect 850 million acres of lands and waters, which are home to approximately 392 threatened and endangered species, 700 species of birds and more than 1,000 fish species. Federal Wildlife Officers provide a full range of conservation, public protection and law enforcement services on National Wildlife Refuges. National Wildlife Refuge System Law Enforcement works with the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement to help enforce federal laws and regulations such as the Lacey Act.