ILEA Gaborone Hosts Advanced Drug Investigation Training For West, Southern African Officials
In a renewed push to tackle the surge in transnational drug trafficking, the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Gaborone has launched an advanced-level training course for 35 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, magistrates, and training personnel from seven African nations.
The five-day programme, running from 23 to 27 June 2025, is led by Special Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Participants from Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo are being equipped with the tools to crack down on increasingly sophisticated drug networks using Africa as a transit and distribution hub.
The course, titled Advanced Drug Investigation, emphasises international controlled deliveries, conspiracy case handling, inter-agency coordination, and operational planning.
Hands-on scenario-based exercises are designed to boost the participants’ capacity to lead high-level investigations across borders.
Speaking on the initiative, organisers reaffirmed ILEA Gaborone’s mission to empower security personnel under the banner “Empowering Those Who Serve” by enhancing regional cooperation and strengthening the fight against organised crime.
Since its inception in 2000, ILEA Gaborone—a collaborative effort between the United States and the Government of Botswana—has trained over 18,000 officials from across 38 African nations.
Backed by Botswana’s in-kind support and U.S. expertise, the academy remains a cornerstone in Africa’s security landscape.
