From June 4-June 6, U.S. Embassy Cotonou held a symposium on the theme “Combating border and transnational crime between Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Nigeria: Lessons learned from the American-Mexican border.” About 30 investigators and prosecutors from Benin, Togo, Burkina-Faso and Nigeria attended the training given by experts from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the State Department’s bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Patricia Mahoney highlighted the importance for participants to have enriching exchanges and develop instructive ideas for a safer West Africa and safer world. She also encouraged participants to work together to achieve the objectives of the symposium. “Nowadays, crimes extend past borders; our cooperation also has to extend past borders. Criminals are working together, so we must also work together. If we do not stick together and help one another, our efforts will fail,” the Ambassador said.
