Chapter 3

We document the war on wildlife in the Congo Basin of central Africa, and examine the links between the trade there and in other parts of Africa and the world. We look at what's driving it, and chronicle the battle to infiltrate and dismantle the trafficking syndicates behind it — along with some of the recent victories.

In Tanzania, we detail the story of the ivory trade, and how stronger law enforcement has forced criminal networks to change the way they operate. We examine the role of Zanzibar — once a major hub for both ivory and the slave trade — to draw out its powerful historical context. From there we follow the smuggling routes from Africa to Asia, revealing who profits from this multi-billion-dollar trade and how criminal syndicates collude with a corrupt web of traders, government institutions and customs officials to stay one step ahead of enforcement.

We trace China's historic trading links with countries around the world, and examine the crucial role Chinese syndicates play in the trade across Africa and the planet. And we investigate how China's ambitious, multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road infrastructure project threatens wildlife and ecosystems in some of the most remote corners of the earth.