ASEANAPOL, FREELAND and LPF Strengthen Action Against Wildlife Trafficking at Wattay International Airport

Vientiane, Lao PDR | 14–15 September 2026

Following the TRIPOD II activity in Hai Phong, Vietnam, ASEANAPOL continued its targeted regional action against wildlife trafficking in cooperation with FREELAND and the Lao Police Force (LPF) in Vientiane, Lao PDR, from 14 to 15 September 2026.

The activity focused particularly on Wattay International Airport, bringing together law enforcement authorities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to detect, investigate and prevent wildlife trafficking through international air transportation routes.

The initiative forms part of ASEANAPOL’s approach to tackling wildlife crime by directing capacity building and operational cooperation towards strategic transportation hubs and trafficking routes. Following the focus on maritime trafficking through Hai Phong Port in Vietnam, the activity in Lao PDR extended this approach to the aviation environment, where airports may serve as transit, departure or entry points for illegal wildlife movements.

Working with FREELAND and LPF, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat supports practical cooperation, knowledge sharing and frontline capabilities to help authorities better identify suspicious movements, detect trafficking indicators, investigate cases and disrupt wildlife trafficking networks.

By connecting interventions at seaports, airports and other strategic transportation points, ASEANAPOL seeks to develop a more coordinated regional response against wildlife trafficking and strengthen the ability of Member Countries to prevent criminal networks from exploiting legitimate transportation systems.

The ASEANAPOL Secretariat will continue working with FREELAND and ASEANAPOL Member Countries to expand targeted action along key wildlife trafficking routes across the region.

Think with Vision, Act with Unity and Deliver with Results – for Together, we keep this region safe.