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    • OBJECTIVES

      The aim of this webinar is to strengthen the understanding of the illegal Shahtoosh trade and to share contemporary customs and other enforcement practices within the framework of CITES through case studies and demonstrated tactics. Shahtoosh, the fine underwool of the endangered Tibetan antelope (chiru), has long been prized for its exceptional softness and warmth, making it a highly coveted luxury textile. The demand for Shahtoosh has fuelled a lucrative black market that directly threatens the survival of this protected species. Despite strict international bans under CITES and national legislation, the illegal trade in Tibetan antelope wool continues to flourish, driven by organized trafficking networks that exploit porous borders, weak enforcement, and high consumer demand. The illicit trade takes many forms, including cross-border smuggling of raw wool and finished shawls, false declarations in customs paperwork, concealment of goods within legitimate shipments, and the use of clandestine supply chains spanning from poaching grounds on the Tibetan Plateau to weaving centers and global luxury markets. Traffickers often rely on front companies, corrupt intermediaries, and online platforms to market and distribute Shahtoosh products, making detection and prosecution especially difficult. This webinar brings together customs officials, wildlife crime investigators and environmental inspectors to showcase current customs control and investigative practices and challenges in tackling Shahtoosh trafficking. Participants will engage in a detailed discussion on the most pressing issues faced in controlling the illegal trade, with particular focus on cross-border smuggling routes, intelligence sources, and case examples illustrating successful seizures and prosecutions. Case studies will highlight both successful tactics and the persistent gaps that allow this illegal trade to persist, including difficulties in detecting concealed goods, limited awareness among enforcement officers, and the challenges of dismantling sophisticated supply chains. By presenting operational insights and practical tools, this session aims to strengthen global cooperation and provide participants with actionable tactics to combat the illegal Shahtoosh trade and protect the Tibetan antelope from extinction.

      By the end of this webinar, the audience will be able to:

      • Recognise the structure and functioning of Shahtoosh trafficking networks, from poaching to luxury markets;
      • Identify common smuggling methods, concealment techniques, and fraudulent trade practices;
      • Explore customs control practices and follow-up investigative approaches for detecting and disrupting wildlife trafficking;
      • Analyse real case examples to understand successful seizures, analysis of products prosecutions, and enforcement challenges;
      • Debate the obstacles and opportunities for international cooperation in combating illegal Shahtoosh trade.

      TARGET GROUP

      • Law enforcement officers specialised in environmental crimes; • Customs officials responsible for customs controls (passenger & commercial trade); • Law enforcement officers specialised in following-up customs crimes; • Officials working for environmental inspectorates and similar key regulatory or enforcement bodies are also welcome. • Prosecutors, Judges;


      PROGRAMME

      1. Welcome and Housekeeping rules by CEPOL
      2. Illegal Trade of Tibetan Antelope Wool “Shatoosh”, Methods of Shahtoosh identification–Swiss CITES Management Authority, Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Switzerland
      3. Identification of Shahtoosh scarves during customs controls - case studies - Federal Office for Customs and Border Security, Switzerland
      4. Q&A and closing
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