A leading United Nations (UN) official has urged the international community to work together to tackle the alarming growth of environmental crime.

The value of plundered natural resources today is estimated to be as high as US$258 billion, up by 26 percent compared to 2014, making environmental crime the world’s fourth most lucrative illegal activity – following drug smuggling, counterfeiting and human trafficking.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said from Angola, which hosts this year’s World Environment Day (WED) celebrations.

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