U.S. and Djiboutian Partners Conduct Forensic Training Exercise

Djiboutian Coast Guardsmen learned forensic water sampling and fingerprint collection to aid in criminal investigations that involve water contamination and drug trafficking.

“This exercise built onto the confidence and knowledge of the Djiboutian Coast Guard’s mission to keep the Djiboutian coast safe from threats and illegal activity,” said Dylan Shafer, NCIS special agent. “The skills and knowledge they learned from this instruction will help them process and analyze a maritime crime scene for evidence of criminal violations to support Djiboutian court proceedings.”

Djibouti works alongside the U.S. to combat criminal activities, guard against terrorism, and provide disaster relief in the Bab-El Mendab Strait.

"This collaboration with the Djiboutian Coast Guard underscores our commitment to international maritime security and environmental protection," said Nick Carlo, NCIS resident agent in charge. “By sharing expertise and fostering international cooperation, we are partnering with our Djiboutian counterparts for a safer and cleaner maritime environment for all."

NCIS and JTFAC’s collaboration is one of the many knowledge exchanges conducted by CLDJ personnel to strengthen U.S.-Djiboutian bilateral relations and interoperability.

“This engagement demonstrated that the Djiboutian Coast Guard is able to use their own equipment, material, and resources to retrieve evidence from the water,” said Shafer.

CLDJ is an operational installation that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where and when they are needed to ensure security in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.