Wildlife Justice Commission

What Wildlife Justice Commission does

Wildlife Justice Commission is an independent non-governmental organization founded in 2015 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. It investigates and helps dismantle transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish, applying an intelligence-led methodology that combines undercover operations, evidence collection to court-prosecution standards, financial-flow investigations, and capacity-building for partner agencies. The organization operates as a real-time service provider to law enforcement worldwide, deploying investigative teams within 24 hours and partnering with agencies including Nigeria Customs Service, Mozambique's SERNIC, Thai and Malagasy authorities, and Liberian police, with embedded analysts in Lao PDR, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its core "product" is a portfolio of prosecution-grade Case Files, an accountability model that includes Public Hearings convened as a last resort, and a training and mentoring programme that has built capability across 11 countries. The organization reported 16 networks dismantled and 84 arrests supported in 2024, a 100% conviction rate in cases it has helped build, and a landmark 7.2-tonne pangolin scale seizure in Nigeria.

The organization is structured as Stichting Wildlife Justice Commission (a Dutch stichting with ANBI status) and operates a wholly-owned US subsidiary, The Wildlife Justice Commission Inc., established as a 501(c)(3) public charity in 2023, plus a Thailand field presence. It employs 117 field and office staff drawn from 30 countries and operates across six continents.

Wildlife Justice Commission is funded primarily through donations and grants rather than commercial revenue. Its funder base combines flagship anchor support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery (five-year beneficiary status granted 2018, extended 2023), core foundation grants from Arcadia and Oak Foundation, EU and UK government grants (including the UK Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund), and individual giving channels routed through Dutch ANBI tax-deductibility and US 501(c)(3) deductibility. Funds are largely restricted to specific projects, with a portion supporting core operations. Pricing is not applicable as the organization sells no commercial products or services.

Name

Wildlife Justice Commission

Legal name

Stichting Wildlife Justice Commission

Website

https://wildlifejustice.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wildlife Justice Commission is a The Hague-based nonprofit founded in 2015 that investigates and helps dismantle transnational wildlife, timber, and fish trafficking networks through intelligence-led operations, law enforcement partnerships, and an accountability model built on prosecution-grade case files.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Crime Investigation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAB

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAIAG

Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Animal Welfare & Wildlife Rescue

Keywords

• Wildlife crime investigations
• Law enforcement support services
• Intelligence-led operations
• Transnational crime disruption
• Nonprofit conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Funding portfolio from balance of sources with strong emphasis on foundation and major donor support. Majority of funds restricted to specific projects, portion contributes to core operations. Funding comes primarily from Netherlands, broader EU, US, and UK. Most funding from individuals, foundations, and lotteries. Small amount from governments and partnerships with other NGOs.
2. Tax-Deductible Donations: For Dutch residents, donations are tax-deductible under Dutch law due to ANBI status. US entity is 501(c)(3) public charity making donations tax-deductible in the USA.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Wildlife Justice Commission is an independent nonprofit that conducts intelligence-led investigations and undercover operations to disrupt transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish. It supports law enforcement agencies worldwide by sharing intelligence, providing operational and analytical support, building investigative capacity through training and mentoring, and producing legally admissible Case Files, with the option to convene Public Hearings as a last-resort accountability mechanism.

Product overview

The Wildlife Justice Commission is an independent, non-governmental organization focused on disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish. Rather than a product-based company with modules or software offerings, it provides investigative and advisory services including intelligence-led investigations, undercover operations, law enforcement partnerships, capacity building and training programs, policy advocacy, and an accountability model involving legally admissible Case Files and Public Hearings. The organization does not offer commercial software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Intelligence-Led Investigations Investigative service that rapidly deploys teams to infiltrate and disrupt transnational criminal networks trafficking wildlife, timber, and fish, using verified intelligence to identify targets and support law enforcement operations worldwide.
• Undercover Operations Undercover operatives work domestically and internationally across supply chains to collect evidence meeting standards required for court prosecutions of wildlife traffickers.
• Financial Investigations Following-the-money financial investigations to trace illicit flows, identify choke points, expose key actors, and enable systematic dismantling of criminal networks tied to wildlife trafficking.
• Intelligence Analysis Real-time intelligence sharing and analytical support to law enforcement agencies, including embedded analysts within national agencies in key trafficking-transit countries, with more than 40 intelligence reports delivered through Project Galvanise to 16 countries.
• Capacity Building and Training Tailored training and mentoring for law enforcement officers and prosecutors covering intelligence analysis, investigative techniques, proactive investigations, and intelligence-driven operations. Delivered in 11 countries with 120 SERNIC officers trained in Mozambique alone.
• Accountability Model with Case Files and Public Hearings Accountability service that documents Case Files to the highest standards, independently reviewed and validated before sharing with national authorities. As a last resort, WJC can convene Public Hearings overseen by an Independent Review Panel when governments fail to act, inspired by the International Criminal Court model.
• Policy Advocacy and Political Will Building Engaging governments through diplomacy and international forums to take action on wildlife crime, including active participation at CCPCJ, UNCAC, UNTOC, CITES, the UN Ocean Conference, and high-level roundtables with UNODC, INTERPOL, ICCF UK, and EJF.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 transnational criminal networks dismantled in 2024 alone
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership formed July 2021 to tackle Nigerian wildlife trafficking. WJC provides intelligence analysis, investigative support, evidentiary assistance. Facilitated 18 joint operations, 42 arrests, 25+ tonnes pangolin scales seized, 12 convictions.
• SERNIC (Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal) - MozambiqueflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Five-year partnership with Mozambique's law enforcement agency responsible for serious organized crime. Joint operations, training, mentoring in intelligence and investigative capabilities. Supported conviction of Simon Valoi (Navara) and Paulo Zucula.
• Peace Parks FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-founder of Wildlife Justice Commission alongside WWF Netherlands through the Postcode Lottery's Dream Fund. Founded at height of Africa's poaching crisis to address shortcomings in efforts to protect endangered species.
• WWF NetherlandsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-founder of Wildlife Justice Commission alongside Peace Parks Foundation through the Postcode Lottery's Dream Fund. Contributed to establishing organization at height of Africa's poaching crisis.
• WWF Greater MekongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoganand Kandasamy noted WJC has had significant impact on wildlife crime investigations in Vietnam. Capacity on intelligence analysis is highly relevant and welcomed by enforcement agencies particularly Vietnam and Thailand.
• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted high-level roundtable on crimes in fisheries sector. Joint side event on achieving SDG14 through criminal justice. Active collaboration on ocean governance and protection.
• INTERPOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organised high-level side event with UNODC on criminal justice and law enforcement role in ocean governance. Active cooperation on environmental crime issues.
• International Conservation Caucus Foundation UK (ICCF UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted high-level roundtable with WJC, UNODC, and Environmental Justice Foundation on species at risk and crimes in fisheries sector at UN Ocean Conference.
• Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint roundtable on fisheries sector crimes. Issued joint statement Confronting Crime to Protect Our Ocean with actionable solutions.
• National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) - MozambiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitated informative sessions at Gorongosa National Park including wildlife trafficking presentations and hands-on experiences with rescued wildlife as part of WJC training program.
• Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented ECO-SOLVE platform at UNTOC COP12 event. Highlighted role of CSOs in providing data to inform law enforcement and importance of involving local communities.
• Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime (EWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChair John Scanlon presented initiative to build network of organizations using new technologies to tackle wildlife crime. Impact Technology Champions initiative.
• Jane Goodall InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJane Goodall provided quote endorsing Wildlife Justice Commission work. UN Messenger of Peace and founder of Jane Goodall Institute.
• Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWJC is Board member of Alliance. Participated in event presenting civil society declaration calling for enhanced collaboration with civil society.
• UNCAC Coalition Working Group on Environmental Crime and CorruptioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWJC serves as Chair of Working Group. Co-founded coalition in 2021 with 230 member organizations. Contributed to 2025 adoption of landmark UN Convention against Corruption resolution on environmental crime.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime: The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime analyzes illicit networks and convenes cross-sector responses, including on environmental crime. It is an emerging peer because WJC applies a comparable intelligence and network-disruption lens to wildlife trafficking, while GI-TOC covers organized crime broadly.
• Earth League International: Earth League International applies intelligence-led investigations, field work, and technology to combat wildlife trafficking and other environmental crimes. It is an emerging direct peer because it targets similar illicit networks and enforcement agencies.
• Environmental Justice Foundation: Environmental Justice Foundation investigates and campaigns against environmental crimes, with particular work on illegal fishing and seafood supply chains. It is an emerging peer because it combines evidence, enforcement partnerships, and policy advocacy in adjacent environmental-crime markets.

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society: WCS operates field conservation programs and works with governments to protect wildlife and combat trafficking. It is a broad incumbent peer due to overlapping government partnerships, field enforcement, and species-protection outcomes, but its portfolio is much broader than WJC's criminal-network investigations.
• International Fund for Animal Welfare: IFAW is a global animal-welfare and conservation organization supporting wildlife protection, anti-poaching, and trafficking responses. It is a broad peer because it serves overlapping wildlife-crime and conservation stakeholders, although its operating model spans more direct animal welfare and field conservation work.
• World Wildlife Fund: WWF is a global conservation organization working on anti-trafficking, policy, and wildlife protection through country programs and coalitions. It is a broad incumbent peer because it addresses the same conservation and trafficking problem at greater scale, but does not specialize in WJC's intelligence-led prosecutorial model.

Direct peers

• Environmental Investigation Agency: Environmental Investigation Agency investigates environmental crime through undercover work, evidence gathering, and campaigns, including wildlife and timber trafficking. It is a direct peer because it targets the same transnational environmental criminals and works with law-enforcement and policy stakeholders.
• Freeland: Freeland works with governments and local partners to disrupt wildlife and forest crime through investigations, intelligence, training, and legal support. It directly overlaps WJC's law-enforcement capacity-building and network-disruption work.
• TRAFFIC: TRAFFIC is a wildlife-trade monitoring network combining data, analysis, enforcement support, and policy work to reduce illegal and unsustainable trade. It directly overlaps WJC in wildlife-trafficking intelligence and intervention, although WJC places more emphasis on undercover operations and prosecutions.

Others

• C4ADS: C4ADS is a nonprofit that uses data analysis and field investigations to expose illicit networks and conflict-financing flows. It is an adjacent peer because WJC's intelligence-led, cross-border investigation and network-mapping model is methodologically similar, although C4ADS is not wildlife-specific.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WJCommission

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wildlife Justice Commission