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Author	Dr Sumanta Meher
Organisation/Institution	ICFAI Law School, The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education.
Country	INDIA
Panel	Environmental Law
Title	An Examination of the Interplay between Corruption, Organized Crime, and the Enforcement of Environmental Laws: Legal Challenges and Strategic Responses in Asian Jurisdictions
Abstract	Environmental crimes are becoming alarmingly prevalent across Asia, posing serious threats not only to ecosystems but also to governance and the rule of law. As criminal networks and corruption intertwine with regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, the fight against environmental offences enters a new era of complexity. This study explores how corruption and organized crime are actively shaping the enforcement (or non-enforcement) of environmental laws in Asian jurisdictions, highlighting the profound barriers these factors create for legal systems and communities striving for sustainability. Through comparative case studies and a blend of doctrinal and empirical analysis, this research unpacks how networks of corrupt officials and organized criminal actors enable and profit from environmental crimes such as illegal logging, mining, and wildlife trafficking. It offers a grounded exploration of why enforcement fails, spotlighting weaknesses in the regulatory environment, lack of inter-agency coordination, and political protection for offenders. Attention is given to promising legal and policy reforms, from strengthening anti-money laundering protocols and judicial independence to fostering international cooperation and civil society oversight. The findings emphasize the need for more transparent legal frameworks, robust investigative powers, and innovative approaches to overcoming entrenched corruption and criminal influence. By combining human stories, legal theory, and structural analysis, this research aims to offer actionable insights and reform directions to fortify environmental justice and good governance in Asia. The discussion is rooted in natural, accessible language, ensuring clarity for both legal scholars and wider audiences interested in building more resilient systems of environmental protection.
Biography	Dr. Sumanta Meher is a student of criminal law and works as an assistant professor of law at ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad. He earned his PhD from the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He completed his LLM degree with a specialization in Criminal Law from Sambalpur University. He also cleared the UGC-NET Exam in December 2014 and June 2015 consecutively. He has eight years of experience in teaching and research. His teaching areas are Criminal Laws (substantive and procedural Laws), Law of Evidence, Economic Crime, and International Criminal Law. He has attended and presented his research paper at the 19th Annual Asian Law Institute (ASLI) Conference - “Sustainable Development and Law in Asia” hosted by the University of Tokyo, the 13th Asian Criminology Conference jointly organized by the Asian Criminology Society and Gujarat National Law University, and other international and national conferences. Apart from that, some peer-reviewed journal articles are also to his credit.