INTERPOL Expands LEAP Program to Combat Deforestation and Environmental Organized Crime

On November 5, 2025, during the Global Wildlife Unity Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, the official commencement of the third phase of the Law Enforcement Assistance Programme to Reduce Tropical Deforestation (LEAP) was announced. This critical initiative is a collaborative effort between INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Norwegian International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI). The primary objective of LEAP 3.0 is to strategically undermine the criminal syndicates that reap substantial profits from illicit logging, the unregulated timber trade, and illegal gold mining operations worldwide.

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdeci Urquiza emphasized that robust action by law enforcement agencies, coupled with strengthened international cooperation, is essential to effectively counter these transnational criminals. The third iteration of LEAP significantly expands its operational reach, now encompassing vital tropical regions across Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Peru. A particular focus is being placed on synergistic crimes, such as the rampant illegal mining activity observed in the Amazon basin. This destructive practice is frequently associated with severe human rights violations and widespread mercury contamination. This comprehensive strategy, which integrates the fight against illegal logging, mining, and trafficking, signals a pivotal shift toward a multi-faceted approach to environmental law enforcement.

Demonstrating the immediate impact potential of this cooperation, Brazilian police, operating with INTERPOL support, executed a highly successful operation on the Madeira River just prior to the LEAP 3.0 announcement. This enforcement action resulted in the destruction of 277 floating dredges utilized for illicit gold extraction. The estimated replacement value of these installations was approximately $6.8 million, and the total financial damage inflicted upon the criminal networks by the operation reached roughly $193 million. Such tangible results provide compelling evidence of the capacity of international structures to effectively dismantle operations that generate billions in revenue through the exploitation of natural resources.

The launch of LEAP 3.0 gains heightened significance as the world looks ahead to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled to take place in Brazil, where global ecological strategies will be a central topic. Since its inception in 2018, the LEAP program has evolved from a targeted response mechanism into a global initiative providing both strategic guidance and operational impact. Phase 2, which ran from 2023 to 2025, concentrated specifically on targeted operations and enhancing cross-border coordination to dismantle organized criminal groups.

The Rio de Janeiro summit, which convened over 400 partners including representatives from Indigenous communities, governments, and the private sector, issued a powerful call to recognize environmental crime as a strategic global priority. This appeal aligns closely with the recent adoption of the Cape Town Declaration, which marked a crucial policy milestone by formally classifying environmental offenses as organized crime. This designation represents a major advancement for the G20 nations in their commitment to combating these devastating activities.