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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Marcet, with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, provides guidance during a ground surveillance practical exercise for Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course provided by with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens stand in formation for drill and ceremony training during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course provided by U.S. Army Soldiers with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens stand in formation for drill and ceremony training during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course provided by U.S. Army Soldiers with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

A Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game warden takes notes during a ground surveillance practical exercise during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course provided by U.S. Army Soldiers with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

U.S. Army Maj. Kevin Jusza, with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa provides guidance for Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens for a ground surveillance practical exercise during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course, provided by the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Smith, with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, conducts a practical exercise in ground surveillance for Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course provided by the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

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Civil Affairs Soldiers enhance Tanzanian counter illicit trafficking operations

U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Smith, with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, provides guidance during a practical exercise in ground reconnaissance for Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) patrol game wardens during a Counter Illicit Trafficking course, in Ngwala, Tanzania, July 24, 2018. The course, provided by the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, is a month-long course to enhance TAWA's anti-poaching capabilities in Tanzania. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy M. Ahearn)

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Photo by: Petty Officer 2nd Class Timothy Ahearn 

NGWALA, Tanzania— Deep in one of the largest countries in East Africa, U.S. Army Soldiers have been training Tanzanian game wardens in Counter Illicit Trafficking (CIT) operations in order to deter poachers and prevent extremist organizations from profiting from illicit activities.

The Soldiers, with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conducted (CIT) training for Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) game wardens, from May to July, 2018.

The United Republic of Tanzania, is rich in culture and wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, hippopotamus, and lions. Approximately 38 percent of its land is reserved for conservation.

Illicit trafficking continues to be a transnational problem throughout the CJTF-HOA area of operations. Enhancing the capabilities of TAWA will disrupt the flow of illicit trade and, in doing so, the funding of violent extremist organizations (VEOs), said U.S. Army Major Kevin Jusza.

“This illegal poaching and hunting funds transnational criminal activity, a lot of these funds have been engaged with transnational terrorist activity; in Kenya for example, Al Shabaab often cross the border from Somalia into Kenya to engage in poaching to fund their operations.” said Jusza.

The training covered a variety of topics such as medical skills, land navigation, ethics and human rights, weapons, patrolling, mission planning, information management and reporting, air to ground reconnaissance, and apprehension. These courses augment the ability to recognize and intercept illicit alleged poachers and illicit traffickers.

As of the end of July 2018, the Soldiers have completed three CIT courses and graduated more than seventy game wardens. These wardens use their training daily to accomplish their mission to prevent and deter illicit trafficking and poaching activities. U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Smith feels proud that he has had such an impact on the TAWA game wardens.

“A student we trained last cycle approached me and told me about a mission last month where his team came upon a poaching camp using tactics we taught them to clear and process the site,” said Smith, “I was extremely proud, and for me to be able have a part in their instruction is a huge joy.”

Studies have been conducted and have included evidence that illegally trafficked goods from Tanzania have been distributed throughout the world to include parts of Asia, South America, and North America. According to a U.S. Department of State Report from May 2017, “illicit trafficking remains the lifeblood of the numerous bad actors and networks, creating vulnerabilities for nations.”

U.S. Africa Command is dedicated to assisting partner nations in their efforts to provide stability and security to their people. This training enables Tanzania to better secure and protect its natural resources and wildlife from transnational threats and extremist organizations.