Peruvian prosecutors and police officers learn about cutting-edge technological tools to combat crime in the digital environment

In a context where organised crime and drug trafficking have moved much of their operations to cyberspace, OSINT methodology becomes crucial. This discipline consists of collecting, analysing and correlating information from publicly accessible websites and social networks to convert it into actionable intelligence and legal evidence.

In the face of increasingly opaque forms of crime, such as money laundering, human trafficking and illicit drug trafficking, mastery of OSINT methodology is becoming indispensable.

In response to this situation, the European Union (EU) project on combating drug trafficking and organised crime has developed a specialised workshop in Lima on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and social media analysis.

The aim of this training is to provide cutting-edge technological tools to key agents in the fight against crime in the digital environment, to whom the training has been directed: the Specialised Cybercrime Prosecutor's Office and the Cybercrime Investigation Directorate (DIRCIBERD) of the Peruvian National Police (PNP).

The training, delivered by European specialists, covered techniques for tracking on the Deep Web, verifying fake profiles, analysing digital financial flows, geolocating criminal assets and tracking the digital footprint of complex organisations that use the web to coordinate illicit operations. In addition, the instructors provided training on obtaining solid digital evidence that would enable effective convictions in highly complex cases, thus preparing officers for the prevention and early detection of new cyber threats.

International cooperation is a fundamental pillar in dismantling criminal organisations that know no borders, and the training provided is part of the EU's ongoing programme in Peru, aimed at strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies. The initiative not only seeks to transfer technical knowledge, but also to consolidate a common front against drug trafficking structures and criminal organisations operating in the shadows of the digital environment.

The European Union's collaboration is essential in modernising Peru's criminal justice system, and, through this exchange of capabilities, the aim is to align Peruvian investigation standards with the most demanding international protocols, enabling a coordinated response to crimes that, by their nature, are often cross-border in nature.