28-30 November 2017 - Nigeria's ability to counter drug trafficking and cybercrime through the appropriate use of digital evidence provided by UNODC experts.
In order to improve the technical skills regarding crime scene management and digital evidence gathering to ensure an effective response to the challenges arising from drug trafficking networks, UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime together with the two European Union funded projects: CRIMJUST and Nigerian Drugs Project "Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria" delivered a three-day introduction training course on Electronic Evidence & Cybercrime. The course took place in Lagos Nigeria, from 28 to 30 November 2017. Thirty-three participants, law enforcement investigators and prosecutors from National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Services, Financial Investigation Unit and Federal High Court attended the event.
The training, delivered by Neil Walsh, Project Coordinator of UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime, covered theoretical modules on Introduction to technology, internet basics and key concepts regarding sources, types of electronic evidence, cybersecurity and Nation State links, Communications Intelligence Analysis, digital crime scene management, transporting and storing digital evidence, darknet market, Cryptocurrency investigation.
Justice Ibrahim Buba, Federal High Court, presented a thematic session on the Nigerian National legislation on the rules of evidence, cybercrime and international cooperation, designed to provide in-depth knowledge about Nigeria's practice in collecting electronic evidence in criminal investigations, and obtaining or providing electronic evidence from or to foreign jurisdictions.
As a result, participants gathered best practices and forensic tools for handling and securing evidence, operational procedures and crime scenes in accordance with the UNODC Global Scientific and Forensic Services Programme standards. Additionally, inter-agency coordination as promoted by the analysis of the role of different personnel involved from the crime scene to the courtroom, including the need for independence, impartiality and integrity on behalf of forensic personnel at the crime scene.
As requested by the participants, UNODC through, CRIMJUST, Global Programme on Cybercrime and Nigerian Drugs Project Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime will provide further technical assistance to strengthening applicable mechanisms concerning the use of digital evidence in drug trafficking related investigations in Nigeria and West Africa. This request demonstrates the importance of organizing practical training events on the use of digital evidence, and of the enhancement of interagency cooperation at the national level.
Under the framework of the CRIMJUST project funded by European Union Cocaine Route Programme, UNODC and its partners (INTERPOL and TI) aim to assist Member States to enhance their capacity and integrity of criminal justice institutions to detect, investigate, prosecute and adjudicate illicit cocaine trafficking cases, and to foster cooperation at the interregional level for effective action to tackle drug trafficking and related organized crime.
For more information:
- European Union "Cocaine Route Programme"
- UNODC Global Programme on Cybercrime
