In 2021, a WWF analysis of timber trade data revealed a puzzling pattern: the Dominican Republic imports substantial quantities of Peruvian timber that far exceed its potential domestic consumption needs, with no recorded re-exports. This suggests the country may function as a transit point for illegal timber laundering operations originating in the Amazon. Additionally, researchers identified consistent export over-invoicing from Peru, particularly in sawn wood shipments, where discrepancies reached $2.6 million in 2015. These patterns represent clear red flags for illicit financial flows, highlighting how certain countries can serve as strategic pass-through markets that facilitate the global illegal timber trade through deliberately misleading customs documentation and corrupt practices.