The author highlights that trade in endangered species is one of the most pernicious forms of transnational environmental crime, involving several layers of participants and facilitated by systemic corruption. The CITES permits states to take pre-emptory actions to curtail this trade, yet it persists. The intervention of INTERPOL in the trade reflects the difficulties states experience in CITES enforcement, but the author questions whether it is an effective approach to this transnational environmental crime. He summarizes, analyzes and evaluates the current role of INTERPOL’s Project Predator (focused on Asian large cats) and Project Wisdom (focused on elephants and rhinoceros), two ongoing efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade. While there are many challenges to the success of these projects, the author suggests these are a necessary spoke in the evolving wheel of global environmental governance.