Under the auspices of the WCO INAMA Project (funded by Sweden, US Department of State, GiZ and CITES Secretariat), a training on CITES Investigation was held from 7th to 11th November 2016 in Lomé (Togo). The aim of this training was to help targeted Customs administrations improve awareness, knowledge and competencies on enforcement of CITES (in particular in conducting investigations).
This workshop was hosted by the Office Togolais des Recettes (OTR – Togo Revenue Authority) and attended by delegates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Republic of the Congo and Togo. Mr. Kodjo ADEDZA, Commissioner of Customs, representing OTR Chief Commissioner, Mr. Essowavana ADOYI, Tax Commissioner and Mr. Philippe Kokou TCHODIE, General Services Commissioner participated in the opening and closing ceremony.
The five-day course covered the following topics: Investigative Methods, Interviewing Techniques, Interviewing and Interrogation, Operational Planning, Surveillance, Controlled Deliveries, Search Techniques, Crime Scene Evidence Collection Techniques. Last day was devoted to practical exercises.
Two presentations were made on CITES convention’s regulatory environment as well as regional and international tendencies regarding the traffic of protected species, one of which was delivered by the ONG TRAFFIC.
For more information about this training and the WCO-INAMA Project, please contact the WCO-INAMA project manager, Marco Foddi (marco.foddi@wcoomd.org).