2006 Press Releases

FBI Conducts Law Enforcement Course in Sierra Leone

Freetown, August 18, 2006

Contact: Public Affairs Officer

Tel: 226481

The American Embassy’s Legal Attaché Office has sponsored the first law enforcement workshop to be held by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Freetown.  The five-day course on “Basic Intelligence Analysis and Development” was conducted by two FBI instructors and attended by 43 participants from the Sierra Leone Police, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Central Intelligence and Security Unit, and the Liberian National Police.

The participants learned how to analyze intelligence information to conduct more effective criminal investigations. They were also instructed on using the FBI or Interpol when conducting international investigations on matters like human trafficking, organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.  Speaking at the graduation ceremony on August 18, American Ambassador Thomas N. Hull told the participants, “While the substance of what you have learned about analyzing intelligence and developing it into a criminal investigation is of utmost importance, the simple fact of your participation in the course sends a message that Sierra Leone is serious about combating lawlessness and criminality.”

The International Military Advisory and Training Team (IMATT) and the Government of Sierra Leone hosted the workshop, and Legal Attaché Office plans to cooperate with both in offering future FBI training courses.  The FBI protects the United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats, enforces U.S. criminal laws of the United States, and provides leadership and criminal justice services to U.S. international law enforcement agencies and partners.  The Legal Attaché Office, which opened in the American Embassy in February 2006, is one of 50 worldwide.  It serves dual purposes of conducting investigations necessary for the security of the United States and building the capacity of host countries, like Sierra Leone, to enforce their laws and fight international crime.