Illegal Wildlife Trade Prevention Efforts Bolstered with Additional Foreign Attachés

The Fish and Wildlife Service has added five new attachés in southeast Asia, south Asia, Africa, and South America to further boost its efforts to combat illegal trade in wildlife. The FWS already has attachés in Thailand, China, Tanzania, Botswana, Gabon, Peru, and Mexico.

According to an FWS press release, wildlife law enforcement attachés are experienced criminal investigators who specialize in wildlife and natural resource investigations. In host countries and regions they provide training and capacity building and advise on leveraging U.S. assets such as the National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory and the Digital Evidence Recovery and Technical Support Unit. The have also have assisted extensively in fostering intelligence sharing and investigative support between affected nations.