The UNODC Terrorism Prevention Branch (UNODC/TPB) held a training on "The use of special investigation techniques in criminal investigation of digital communication channels" from 26 to 29 September 2016 in Vienna. The event was organized jointly with the Office of the Permanent Observer of the Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) to the United Nations in Vienna and in its premises and in close consultation with the UNODC Office for GCC Countries based in Abu Dhabi.
The training was the first of its kind and brought together 15 experts from GCC countries who specialize in cyber-crimes, and are working in digital investigation departments. The event included participants from Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as three officials from the Spanish Guardia Civil and two experts from the Cyber Crime Unit of the Italian Carabinieri.
The training was opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh bin Ali Al-Gheilani, Head of the GCC Office in Vienna, and General Pablo Salas Moreno, Chief of the Information Directorate of the Spanish Guardia Civil.
The training consisted of technical presentations, delivered by experts from the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Italian Carabinieri. A number of specialized core topics, mainly on the Internet related criminal investigations, were tackled in these presentations. Common procedures and challenges faced by investigators were presented, along with an in-depth analysis of the different facets of the use of the Internet in criminal investigations, the challenges it presents and the methods used to ensure the efficiency.
The sub-topics discussed included: investigations related to the Deep Web and its complexities, social networks, e-mails and other forms of written communication, advanced search procedures, and all the additional channels employed by criminals to pursue their goals. Throughout these presentations, the importance of international cooperation was emphasized. The challenges for international cooperation were also highlighted through concrete cases that illustrate current limits, and explore areas for improvement.
The event concluded with a ceremony to congratulate the participants for their successful completion of the training.
UNODC/TPB and the UNODC Office for GCC Countries will closely coordinate with the beneficiary countries on follow-up initiatives.
