Special Agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement are conducting a training program for law enforcement officers from Kenya and several other African countries at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Otse, Botswana. The Wildlife Trafficking Investigators Program runs from August 11 to August 22, 2025, and includes participants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, and Namibia.
The program aims to improve the ability of participants to detect, investigate, and disrupt wildlife crime. It features interactive exercises, peer learning opportunities, and instruction by USFWS on investigative techniques. The goal is to build capacity among law enforcement personnel to address wildlife trafficking and related transnational crimes.
Kenya has increased its efforts against wildlife trafficking through expanded anti-poaching operations, improved surveillance at ports of entry, and stronger legal penalties. Kenyan participation in this training demonstrates an ongoing commitment to combating wildlife crime and working with regional partners.
According to the organizers, “The Wildlife Trafficking Investigators Program strengthens participants’ ability to detect, investigate, and disrupt wildlife crime through interactive exercises, peer learning, and USFWS-led instruction on proven investigative techniques. By enhancing the capacity of law enforcement personnel to combat wildlife trafficking, the program supports broader goals of preventing transnational crime, dismantling trafficking networks, and strengthening partnerships between the United States and its partner nations to address shared security threats.”
ILEA Gaborone was established in 2000 as a leading institution for law enforcement training in Africa. It is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs as part of a joint initiative with the Government of Botswana.
For more information or photos related to this event, contact Clarabelle Gail Watson at watsoncg@state.gov.