When United States (US) Central Command (Centcom) and its sister command in Africa (Africom) identified a need to gather evidence the US Army Joint Theatre Forensic Analysis Centre (JTFAC) answered the call. Its forensic team launched into action at sea, turning expertise into real-world impact.
Major Joe Legros, US Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) reported that at the request of the two Commands, JTFAC personnel deployed to collect and analyse forensic evidence from a vessel carrying Iranian-supplied advanced conventional weapons. Seized cargo included ballistic missile components, anti-ship ballistic missile parts and a warhead, all bound for Houthi rebel forces in Yemen.
The forensic evidence helped secure a 5 June 2025 federal conviction of the ship’s captain, Muhammad Pahlawan, a Pakistani national who worked closely with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was convicted on six charges related to smuggling Iranian-made advanced conventional weaponry destined for the Houthis in Yemen, as well as threatening multiple witnesses.
“The JTFAC forensic team conducted rapid sensitive site exploitation at expeditionary locations, including the maritime environment,” said US Army Lieutenant Colonel Kyle Thomason, provost marshal for SETAF-AF, which provides oversight to JTFAC operations.
To meet the demands of a maritime environment, the team adapted its “Fly Away Kit”, a mobile forensic toolkit designed for land and sea missions. This enabled JTFAC scientists to conduct on-site analysis, including chemical trace detection, biometric collection, confirming and inventorying types of weapons and equipment aboard.
The vessel’s initial interdiction resulted in the deaths of two Navy SEALs off the coast of Somalia in January 2024, making international headlines at the time. The loss of service members was not in vain thanks in no small measure to forensic expertise.
The interdiction stopped anti-ship ballistic missiles from targeting US and partner nation vessels. The type of weaponry found was consistent with weapon systems used by Houthi rebel forces against merchant ships and US military vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack in Israel.
“The JTFAC services the joint inter-agency inter-governmental multinational community in Africom. Their mission enables US and partner nation forces to accomplish Africom campaign objectives,” Thomason said.
Along with Africom and Centcom, US European Command was also part of the offshore mission, highlighting JTFAC’s reach across geographic boundaries and inter-agency lines.
“We’re glad to have had the opportunity to fit into the seams of multiple commands to support this consequential operation,” added Thomason.
The mission not only demonstrated the centre’s technical capabilities, but also strengthened collaboration between defence, justice and diplomatic agencies operating in the Africom area of responsibility. It marked a milestone in JTFAC’s expanding role as a forensic enabler for military and civilian partners.
“The lab is internationally accredited, meaning its scientists can serve as expert witnesses in the US and abroad. This comes in handy when either the US or a partner nation wants to take legal action against subjects identified through our forensic analysis,” Greg Sanson, JTFAC liaison officer to SETAF-AF. said.
JTFAC’s recent support of African Lion exercises laid the groundwork for this success. During those multinational events, forensic exploitation team (FXT) scientists provided hands-on training to host nation forces in Tunisia and Morocco, covering topics including latent fingerprint development, DNA analysis and post-blast evidence recovery.
In addition, the Africom exercise Cutlass Express included 21 legal advisors from 12 countries converging in Victoria, Seychelles, in February. The multinational team discussed legal processes and examined possible scenarios to support search and seizure operations such as the type of mission which brought about the latest conviction.
“These engagements not only enhance the forensic science capabilities of our partners across the African continent, they reinforce our centre’s readiness for real world contingencies,” US Army Major Lucas Poon, JTFAC director at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, said.
JTFAC’s capabilities come from military and civilian personnel, operating under the umbrella of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). The Army CID’s forensic exploitation division (FXD) staffs the majority of JTFAC positions. While the JTFAC is operationally controlled by SETAF-AF, a team from multiple US Army Commands enables this function.
The FXD supports numerous annual partner nation engagements and deploys on six-month rotations as part of the JTFAC in Djibouti.
“The lab’s ongoing mission provides multiple other benefits to partner nations, civilians and service members who operate in this area,” said Sanson. “Accurate forensic assessments lead to updated tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as revisions to protective equipment and policies to keep people safe now and into the future.”
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