Imagine rare ivory tusks cleverly disguised as ordinary cargo attempting to slip through customs. Without trained intelligence personnel, such illegal wildlife trade operations would often go undetected. To combat increasingly sophisticated wildlife trafficking networks, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has been conducting foundational intelligence training across Africa through its INAMA project.
From July 27-31, 2015, WCO's INAMA program held a CITES-focused intelligence training course in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted by the Kenya Revenue Authority with funding from the Swedish government, the workshop brought together customs officials from Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda. The initiative received additional support from the CITES Secretariat, German International Cooperation Agency (GiZ), and the U.S. State Department.
Core Training Components
The curriculum centered on the intelligence cycle, aiming to modernize participants' operational practices against wildlife crime through enhanced analytical capabilities. Key focus areas included:
- Intelligence Collection & Analysis: Participants learned advanced methods including Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) applications. The training covered techniques for identifying suspicious trade patterns and transforming raw data into actionable intelligence.
- Risk Assessment & Targeting: Officers received instruction on risk quantification methodologies to better identify high-value targets, including suspicious shipments, transport routes, and traders.
- Information Sharing Frameworks: The program emphasized establishing cross-border intelligence sharing mechanisms to combat transnational wildlife crime networks.
- Legal Foundations: Detailed CITES convention reviews provided participants with clearer understanding of international wildlife protection laws.
Strengthening Institutional Partnerships
The workshop facilitated dialogue between customs agencies and key stakeholders, including representatives from the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, Wildlife Conservation Society, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.
Nicholas Kinoti, Deputy Commissioner of Kenya Revenue Authority Customs, highlighted customs' frontline role in disrupting wildlife trafficking networks. "Effective border control requires coordinated efforts with all relevant partners," he noted, emphasizing the need for multi-agency collaboration.
The WCO INAMA project lead confirmed this training forms part of broader capacity-building efforts across Africa. Future initiatives will focus on providing technical assistance, specialized equipment, and continued professional development to strengthen regional wildlife crime interdiction capabilities.
This Nairobi session not only enhanced participants' analytical skills but also established platforms for ongoing regional cooperation. Such coordinated efforts demonstrate growing international commitment to protecting Africa's threatened wildlife populations from illegal exploitation.