The United States Government, through its Overseas Criminal Investigations (OCI) Unit, has trained 63 border and security officers from Sierra Leone and Liberia in human trafficking detection, fraudulent travel document identification and imposter detection.
The training, conducted in September 2026 along the Sierra Leone–Liberia border, forms part of ongoing US efforts to strengthen regional security cooperation and combat transnational organised crime in West Africa.
According to information released on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the programme equipped participating officers with practical techniques to identify suspected traffickers, detect individuals travelling under false identities and respond to suspicious activities at border crossings.
The training used real-life cases to help participants understand how criminal networks exploit international borders and travel documents.
Officers were introduced to methods for identifying potential human trafficking activities, recognising imposters and detecting suspicious travel patterns.
The programme also provided an opportunity for Sierra Leonean and Liberian security personnel to discuss information-sharing mechanisms and strengthen cooperation between their respective agencies.
The United States said the initiative would contribute to regional security while protecting US citizens and safeguarding the integrity of American travel documents.
Cross-border information sharing is considered particularly important in addressing trafficking networks that operate across national boundaries and exploit weaknesses in immigration and border management systems.
The Overseas Criminal Investigations programme operates under the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
OCI focuses on investigating and disrupting criminal activities involving fraudulent US passports, visas and other travel or identity documents.
The programme also works with foreign law enforcement and immigration authorities to identify suspected criminals who attempt to exploit international travel systems.
With a reported presence in 115 locations worldwide, OCI provides specialised training to international partners on travel document security features, fraudulent document identification, imposter detection and suspicious traveller profiling.
According to the US State Department, OCI-supported training has helped foreign authorities disrupt human smuggling networks, intercept suspected foreign terrorist fighters and apprehend wanted fugitives.
The programme has reportedly trained approximately 25,400 foreign partners, reflecting its wider international security cooperation efforts.
The latest training builds on existing security cooperation between Sierra Leone and Liberia, particularly in combating human trafficking, drug trafficking and other forms of organised crime.
In November 2025, the two countries signed a joint communiqué committing themselves to stronger collaboration against cross-border criminal activities.
The agreement included commitments to intelligence sharing, joint training programmes and discussions around establishing a Mano River Union Police Chiefs Committee to strengthen regional law enforcement coordination.
The United States has also supported similar initiatives in Liberia.
In January 2026, the US Embassy in Monrovia partnered with the Liberia National Police to provide training on fraudulent travel document identification and imposter detection at the Liberia National Police Training Academy.
These engagements are intended to improve the ability of security agencies to detect suspicious movements and respond to criminal networks operating across international borders.
Sierra Leone has also undertaken additional initiatives to strengthen its response to human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
In July 2026, the Sierra Leone Police, in collaboration with INTERPOL, organised a three-day capacity-building programme aimed at improving investigators’ ability to identify and investigate trafficking-related crimes.
During that engagement, Deputy Inspector General of Police Andrew Mustapha Kamara highlighted the increasing sophistication of trafficking networks and the importance of international cooperation in tackling cross-border criminal activities.
He also emphasised the need for joint operations and stronger collaboration with the Liberia National Police, particularly along the Mano River Union corridor.
The latest US-supported training reinforces these efforts by strengthening the practical capabilities of frontline officers responsible for border security.
As Sierra Leone and Liberia continue to address the challenges posed by human trafficking and organised crime, cooperation with international partners remains an important component of their regional security strategies.
The training of 63 officers represents another step towards improving border surveillance, detecting fraudulent travel documents and strengthening coordination among security institutions in both countries.
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