The brutal killing of an African elephant for its ivory, smuggled to Asia and sold on the black market, represents a daily tragedy threatening global biodiversity. To combat this criminal activity, the INAMA project has been quietly making significant strides across Africa and Asia since 2019.
Between July and August 2019, INAMA deployed expert national support teams to nine customs administrations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. The recipient countries—Angola, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Laos, Nigeria, Tanzania, Thailand, and Togo—received targeted assistance building upon previous initiatives including regional workshops, "train-the-trainer" programs, certification seminars, and operations "PRAESIDIO" and "THUNDERBALL."
Strategic Focus Areas
The expert missions concentrated on four critical aspects of combating illegal wildlife trade (IWT):
- Training Framework Enhancement: Teams evaluated existing training systems and proposed improvements to boost customs officials' ability to identify, intercept, and process IWT cases. This included customized training programs for different staff levels and incorporating advanced training technologies.
- Legal Framework Strengthening: Experts reviewed national legislation and recommended amendments to ensure effective deterrence against IWT crimes, including stricter penalties and improved enforcement mechanisms.
- Risk Management Optimization: Assistance was provided to establish robust risk assessment systems, utilizing big data analytics and inter-agency information sharing to better identify high-risk cargo and individuals.
- Action Plan Development: Customs departments received support in creating concrete operational plans, including enhanced border controls and interdepartmental operations.
Certification Process
Some missions incorporated certification assessments, with pre-certified experts participating in diagnostic exercises. Field evaluations produced detailed assessment reports that informed final certification decisions during the August 26-30, 2019 certification workshop.
Funding and Future Directions
The initiative received financial backing from the U.S. Department of State and Eurocustoms' Customs Cooperation Fund. Moving forward, several areas merit attention:
- Enhanced international cooperation through information sharing and joint operations
- Public awareness campaigns to encourage citizen participation in combating IWT
- Implementation of advanced technologies like AI and big data analytics
- Specialized training programs for law enforcement personnel
The INAMA project represents more than technical assistance—it embodies a collaborative effort connecting continents to preserve global biodiversity and protect Earth's fragile ecosystems for future generations.