INAMA Initiative Expands Antiwildlife Trafficking in Africa Asia

Published: 01/22/2026
Wildlife Trafficking Customs Enforcement International Cooperation
The INAMA project supports customs authorities in nine African and Asian countries, enhancing their capacity to combat illegal wildlife trade through expert support missions. These missions focus on training, legislation, risk management, and action plans. The project promotes international cooperation, improves enforcement capabilities, and protects biodiversity, aiming to build a strong defense against ecological threats. By strengthening customs controls and fostering collaboration, INAMA contributes to the global effort to conserve endangered species and maintain ecological balance.
INAMA Initiative Expands Antiwildlife Trafficking in Africa Asia

Imagine a world without border controls or customs enforcement - where endangered species face unchecked plundering. African elephant tusks, rhino horns, tiger bones... these creatures that should thrive in nature instead become commodities for criminal profiteering. Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) has emerged as one of the most severe threats to global ecosystems.

The INAMA project is now taking decisive action across Asia and Africa, empowering customs authorities to combat wildlife trafficking at its source.

Multinational Operations Underway

Between July and August 2019, INAMA conducted nine expert support missions spanning multiple nations across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Customs departments in Angola, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Laos, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, and Togo received comprehensive assistance from the initiative.

Comprehensive Capacity Building

These expert missions built upon previous successful operations including regional workshops, trainer certification programs, and coordinated "PRAESIDIO" and "THUNDERBALL" enforcement actions. The current focus targets four critical areas for customs enhancement:

  • Training System Modernization: Expert teams evaluated existing training frameworks and proposed upgrades to ensure customs officers master cutting-edge IWT intelligence and enforcement techniques.
  • Legal Framework Strengthening: Specialists assisted in reviewing and improving relevant legislation to provide customs with more robust legal tools against traffickers.
  • Risk Management Optimization: Teams helped establish advanced risk assessment systems to improve identification and interception of IWT threats.
  • Action Plan Implementation: Joint development of operational plans ensures anti-IWT measures translate into concrete results.

Expert Certification Program

Several missions simultaneously served as evaluation platforms for specialist certification. Candidates gained field experience during diagnostic operations before undergoing final assessment. Qualified experts received formal certification during an August 26-30 workshop, creating a permanent cadre of anti-trafficking specialists for regional customs agencies.

Funding and Future Directions

The program operates through funding from the U.S. State Department and Eurocustoms' Customs Cooperation Fund. Future initiatives may include enhanced intelligence sharing networks, deployment of advanced scanning technologies, and public awareness campaigns about IWT's ecological consequences.

Recent data reveals the crisis scale: tens of thousands of African elephants slaughtered annually for ivory, rhino horns commanding higher prices than gold, and pangolins becoming the world's most trafficked mammals - with IWT costing global economies billions yearly.

The INAMA initiative represents a critical front in preserving biodiversity, fostering international cooperation, and developing sustainable enforcement capabilities against wildlife crime networks. While progress has been achieved, ongoing commitment remains essential to safeguard endangered species and maintain ecological balance for future generations.

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