Wildlife Border Inspection Training: Session 3

Published June 30, 2023

The one-week Wildlife Border Inspection Training Program (WBITP) was successfully concluded on June 30, 203 by the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Bangkok, in collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The training program brought together 36 participants from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Led by instructors from CBP and FWS, the curriculum of the program focused on various aspects of wildlife protection, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), wildlife trade data, wildlife identification, case initiation and management, interviewing techniques, border interdiction, evidence processing, ethics and corruption, and court preparation. The training underscored the significance of establishing and maintaining global connections for exchanging intelligence among countries.

The participants actively engaged in discussions, fostering extensive interactions, information sharing, and the exchange of techniques in the fight against wildlife trafficking. They had the opportunity to utilize field equipment designed to support wildlife inspections, while the instructors provided valuable insights into combatting specific challenges related to wildlife inspections. This collaborative effort and the exchange of intelligence are vital in the ongoing battle against international wildlife trafficking.