Human traffickers and migrant smugglers are increasingly leveraging digital technologies to carry out their crimes with greater efficiency and reach. But these same technologies have also opened new avenues for the criminal justice sector.
Every online interaction leaves a digital footprint, and through sophisticated data collection and analysis, investigators can better track illegal activity and gather critical digital evidence.
To support these efforts, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) equips criminal justice professionals with open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis techniques – tools that can not only help identify individual criminals but also dismantle entire transnational networks.
Criminals exploit social media and online platforms to advertise illicit services, lure victims, conduct financial transactions, communicate with accomplices, coordinate illegal operations and even facilitate exploitation.
For example, traffickers create fake job advertisements online to trick individuals into forced labour, sexual or other forms of exploitation. They set up fake accounts and promote attractive work opportunities targeting vulnerable individuals. Some traffickers proactively contact potential victims, offering them jobs in various industries.
Once the victim takes the bait, perpetrators use coercion, blackmail, emotional manipulation, document confiscation or physical threats to exploit them for profit.
Digital technology is also used to perpetrate exploitation itself. UNODC has documented cases where victims were forced to commit online crimes. Locked up in heavily secured compounds, they were made to scam others in online chats under threat of brutal violence.
Migrant smugglers also use social media groups and messaging apps to advertise their services. They often post photos and videos of migrants reaching their destinations successfully, portraying irregular migration as a viable option.
Such “marketing campaigns” encourage more people to embark on dangerous journeys – many of which tragically end in loss of life, violence or exploitation.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis involves gathering and analyzing publicly accessible data from various sources to aid investigations.
These sources include websites, social media, newspapers, online databases, e-commerce sites, blogs, forums, messaging platforms, public government portals and even the deep and dark web.
The data collected can include usernames, profile details, email addresses, images and posts – details that can be gathered in a targeted and non-invasive manner.
OSINT analysts must ensure that such raw data is transformed into useful and actionable intelligence. They require strong skills in finding, assessing, verifying and synthesizing large volumes of diverse information.
This information is then analyzed to uncover trends, events and crucial clues related to an investigation, ultimately supporting informed decision-making in the fight against criminal organizations.
Even with just a few fragments of information, investigators can reconstruct crime patterns and identify those involved. OSINT enables them to detect recruitment sites, uncover false job postings, map smuggling routes, expose criminal networks, trace illicit financial flows and more.
Here are some examples of how OSINT is used in anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling investigations:
Investigators can monitor the web for keywords and phrases associated with trafficking and smuggling activities. They can analyze suspicious profiles for posts, images and other indicators that may suggest victim recruitment or smuggling services.
Although traffickers and smugglers often use fake profiles, they inevitably leave behind real traces. Contact details such as phone numbers and email addresses – often shared for potential victims to get in touch – can help identify those behind the illegal operations.
Examining the suspect’s online footprint across different platforms can provide a more complete picture of their activities. By linking multiple accounts, investigators can develop a detailed profile of criminals and their operations.
Traffickers and smugglers rarely work alone. They often operate within vast criminal organizations spanning multiple countries. By reviewing online connections, such as friends lists and digital interactions, investigators can understand ties to other criminals and victims.
Both trafficking and smuggling are committed to generate profit. Illegally acquired funds are frequently laundered – presented as legitimate – to hide their origin. By analyzing companies’ websites, public records, contact details and addresses, investigators can spot suspicious corporate structures and detect money laundering activities.
Analyzing open-source data is not without challenges. Investigators must overcome issues related to finding reliable information, verifying its accuracy, avoiding privacy violations and ensuring their own security.
Handling massive amounts of data can be overwhelming and requires cross-checking with other sources to confirm its reliability. The use of artificial intelligence, the dark web and the cross-border nature of human trafficking and migrant smuggling further complicate investigations.
With funding from the United Kingdom, UNODC trained criminal justice professionals in Iraq to equip them with the skills to work with OSINT. The training was based on real-life case studies and practical exercises. Participants learned techniques for collecting and analyzing data and drawing useful conclusions while applying ethical, legal and human rights considerations.
