Blogs

We are thrilled to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice Museum will open its doors in July 2026 as part of America's 250th anniversary celebration! This milestone represents years of careful planning, research, and dedication to preserving and sharing the remarkable history of justice in America.

This issue of the Bulletin includes cases involving: exotic fish smuggling; brine water discharges; snake trafficking; game bird fighting; pesticide sales; refrigerant smuggling, and more.

From February 23–27, ICITAP delivered Internal Auditor Training for 21 Mexican forensic experts representing multiple states and forensic disciplines. The training supports ongoing efforts to strengthen forensic laboratory systems and promote adherence to internationally recognized standards for scientific quality, reliability, and accountability.

On February 19, the ICITAP-Montenegro Mission Advisor and the INL Senior Justice Advisor met with senior representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Montenegro, including the Deputy Head of Mission and leadership from the Security Cooperation and Governance Program, to review the OSCE’s 2026 Law Enforcement Assistance Report and Action Plan and align it with ICITAP’s operational priorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), in partnership with the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law and the Independent Forest Monitoring Network, last month participated in a training workshop for 25 Indonesian law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on addressing illegal timber and wildlife trafficking crimes.  

From February 9–14, ICITAP sponsored eight Mexican forensic experts to participate in the 78th Annual Conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) in New Orleans, Louisiana, the largest gathering of the forensic science community focused on learning, collaboration, and professional networking. 

From February 2–6, ICITAP, in partnership with the Guardian Centers of Georgia, delivered an Advanced Surveillance and Countersurveillance Training to 15 officers from Jordan’s Public Security Directorate/Special Branch, combining classroom instruction with intensive, scenario-driven field exercises designed to strengthen operational tradecraft and mission readiness. 

From January 26 to 30, ICITAP-Colombia, in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, conducted a Financial Investigation Techniques course for 30 investigators from the Colombian National Police and the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney General’s Office.

This issue of the Bulletin includes cases involving wild bird smuggling; biofuel fraud; worker deaths; pesticide sales; dog fighting; big game hunting; hazardous waste storage; reptile smuggling; demolition projects; wastewater discharges, and more.

On January 23, the ICITAP-Mexico Attaché and the ICITAP-Mexico Director of Operations, alongside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico and the Attorney General of Quintana Roo, participated in a ceremony honoring 23 public servants from the state’s forensic services agency who successfully completed ICITAP-led courses in genetics, chemistry, and Internal Auditing of Quality Management Systems.