Table 1 A crime script analysis template and guiding questions to facilitate the process of populating the script

Phase: poaching

 Preparation

 Description of the planning and preparation that is required for the activity to occur

• What tools or equipment are acquired (if any) to capture the lizards?

• Are lizards captured to fulfill orders from buyers?

• How are locations for selecting lizards determined?

• Are lizards from some geographical areas more valuable than others?

• Is there a seasonal preference (time of year) or time of day preference for capturing the lizards?

• What suppliers are used to obtain the necessary equipment or tools?

• Are there co-offenders involved?

• Is professional help required to carry out the poaching?

 Pre-activity

 These are the actions taken to establish or awaits condition under which the crime can be committed

• Is extensive travel to poaching locations required?

• Does it require setting traps to capture the lizards?

• How are lizards transported once captured?

• Are efforts made to evade detection by law enforcement or government?

 Activity

 The action taken to fulfil the goal of the offender. Obviously, the poaching event has already taken place as soon as the animal is killed

• What can be said about this actual activity?

• How are they captured and handled?

Post-activity

Description of the activities that occur immediately after the activity itself, and that need to occur to exit the activity

• Are the lizards kept live or killed at once?

• How are they handled before they are transported to the oil extraction location?

• How are the lizards or fat sold?

• What payment system(s) are used?

• How do poachers communicate with purchasers?

Phase: oil production

 Preparation

 Description of the planning and preparation that is required for the activity to occur

• Are special tools required to extract the oil? If so, what are these and is there any indication about how these are acquired?

• Are other ingredients acquired to be used in the process?

• Are lizard oil products made to order for particular buyers? Or is a lizard oil supply made and producers attempt to sell their stock?

• What type of location is needed for oil production?

 Pre-activity

 These are the actions taken to establish or awaits condition under which the crime can be committed

• How complex is the production of the oil and what additional pre-activities are required to carry it out?

• Are efforts made to evade detection by law enforcement or government?

 Activity

 The action taken to fulfil the goal of the offender

• How is the oil extracted?

• What is the lizard oil production process?

• How much product is made at one time?

• Do producers make efforts to avoid detection by law enforcement or government?

 Post-activity

 Description of the activities that occur immediately after the activity itself, and that need to occur to exit the activity

• How is the oil stored?

• Does it require special handling? How is it packaged?

• What brand names and/or logos are used?

• Where is packaged?

• How are packaging materials obtained?

• How is the packaging paid for?

Phase: oil sale

 Preparation

 Description of the planning and preparation that is required for the activity to occur

• What steps are taken to prepare for the marketing of the product? (e.g., labels acquired, bottles?, online advertisements, recording of the promotional videos, etc.)

• What animals or animal products are displayed–dead or alive?

• What information is given about how lizards are obtained?

• What lizard oil production process is demonstrated (if any)?

• What lizard oil products are advertised/displayed?

• What brand names/logos/packaging are displayed for product?

• How much of the product(s) is displayed?

• What benefits of the oil are being advertised/promised?

• What country is the video made in?

• What language(s) spoken?

• What type of location where the video is recorded (outdoors, store, home?)

• Who appears in the video?

• How many individuals are in the video? (include roles and names, if any)

 Pre-activity

 These are the actions taken to establish or awaits condition under which the crime can be committed

• How do the vendors communicate with their potential buyers?

• Are certain types of buyers targeted?

• How active are they in responding to buyer comments/inquiries?

• How openly does all this activity take place?

• What platforms are used to sell products (e.g., Facebook, IG, etc.)?

• Do sellers use Dark web sites or platforms?

• Are sellers taking steps to evade detection by law enforcement or government?

 Activity

 The action taken to fulfil the goal of the offender

• How is the sale initiated?

• Does the vendor talk about the easiness of payment (even if it to international buyers)? For example, do they talk about a PayPal account that can be used to pay, a direct bank transfer?

• Any other discussion of a third-party vendor?

• Do they also mention other sites (e.g., Etsy?) that the buyers can find their products on?

• What is the price for advertised lizard oil product?

• What payment platforms are used to sell products?

• What communication methods are offered between seller and buyer?

• What phone number, email address, or other contact info for the seller is supplied to potential buyers?

• Are sellers offering other products besides lizard oil?

• Do online sellers have physical stores to sell same products?

 Post-activity

 Description of the activities that occur immediately after the activity itself, and that need to occur to exit the activity

• How are the products shipped?

• Do sellers make efforts to disguise contents of shipment?

• Can products be returned?

• Do buyers post reviews?