UNODC, NSA Advocate Open Source Intelligence Gathering To Tackle Cybercrime
THE United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have called for the use of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) for undercover operations online by security agencies.
At a five-day interagency training on Open Source Intelligence and Undercover Operation in Abuja, the two agencies said that the evolving nature of crime in cyberspace and the adaptability of criminals to constant changes make it critical for law enforcement agencies to find and adapt to new ways of conducting undercover operations online.
UNODC Country Representative, Cheikh Touré, pointed out that the security landscape of West Africa is not just changing but is fundamentally being reshaped.
He said, “The threats that we once understood as physical and localised are now digital, transnational and insidiously connected.
“The criminal networks we seek to dismantle no longer operate solely in the shadows of the physical world; they thrive in the boundless, anonymous expanse of cyberspace.”
Touré explained that cybercriminals exploit the digital infrastructure to finance their operations, spread violent propaganda that radicalises across borders, and coordinate with speed and precision that can outpace traditional law enforcement.
“The nexus between terrorism and organised crime has found a powerful accelerator in the digital domain, creating a hybrid threat that demands a hybrid response,” he insisted.
Speaking on the importance of technology in criminal investigations and the unravelling of dangers lurking in cyberspace, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said that long-term partnerships among key stakeholders remain central to tackling cybercrime in Nigeria, Africa, and the globe.
He noted that cybercrime is fast-paced with technology; therefore, the law must adapt to the present challenge.
“Criminals have adapted quickly, using technology to move faster, hide deeper, and reach farther than ever before.
“The truth is, while crime moves at the speed of light, we too often move at the speed of the law and in that gap lies our greatest challenge.”
Earlier, National Coordinator of the NCCC, Sa’ad Ahmed, observed that key partners, including the UNODC and the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (USINL), have played and will continue to play a role in strengthening the collective fight against transnational and cyber-enabled crimes.
Represented by Mr. Sheriff Salary, he said, “Crime is rapidly migrating into the digital domain and as they (criminals) shift their operations online, they inevitably generate digital footprints; trails of evidence that can be traced, analysed, and exploited.”
The training drew participants from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
