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United Nations Intelligence and Transnational Organized Crime Initiatives: Evolution and Lessons Learned

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Intelligence Sharing, Transnational Organized Crime and Multinational Peacekeeping
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Abstract

The UN has been slow to recognize transnational organized crime as a destabilizer but in 2013, included its mitigation in the mission area as part of its stabilization mission in Mali. This mission was also the first to include an All Sources Intelligence Fusion Unit (ASIFU) to attempt to more effectively collect, process, and share information at the mission level for direct mission action. While this recognition of the need to share intelligence and to consider crime are leaps forward, there are still improvements to be made. This chapter explores information sharing by other multinational organizations in Africa, Europe, and Latin America to glean lessons to be applied to overcome intelligence limitations in UN missions.

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Notes

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    Jibecke Joensson. “Interfaces between Peace Operations and Organized Crime.” September 2015. Challenges Forum Policy Brief 2015:2.

  7. 7.

    United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by Security Council resolution 2100 on April 25, 2013. Available from http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusma/documents/mali%20_2100_E_.pdf accessed on July 18, 2017.

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    While this figure is included in the UN DPKO-DFS Policy on Peacekeeping Intelligence in Annex B. Available from http://repository.un.org/handle/11176/400584 and accessed April 18, 2017, this color version was presented in a briefing on “Peacekeeping Intelligence” by Renata Dwan, Policy and Best Practices Service, DPKO-DFS/DPET on November 23, 2016, shared with the author with Ms. Dwan’s permission by a participant in the meeting.

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  36. 36.

    Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA) Handbook Available from www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/tools-and-publications.html accessed on August 10, 2016.

  37. 37.

    INTERPOL’s Contribution to the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem November 19, 2015. Available from www.unodc.org/documents/ungass2016/Contributions/IGO/INTERPOL_Input_to_UNGASS_19NOV2015.pdf accessed on August 12, 2016.

  38. 38.

    INTERPOL’s Contribution to the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem, 19 November 2015 states, “Since 1923, INTERPOL (“the Organization”) has been working to ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all law enforcement authorities within the limits of the law and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Organization connects law enforcement which may not otherwise be able to do so, and allows them to work together irrespective of the differences their countries may otherwise have…INTERPOL 190 countries are members of INTERPOL. Law enforcement from these countries maintain their connection with each other through a network of National Central Bureaus (“NCBs”). A secure communication system helps them to interact in real-time to initiate, advance and conclude multi-jurisdictional criminal investigations, conduct transnational operations, and share actionable intelligence…” Available from www.unodc.org/documents/ungass2016/Contributions/IGO/INTERPOL_Input_to_UNGASS_19NOV2015.pdf accessed on August 12, 2016.

  39. 39.

    “Guidelines for Police Operations in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions.” United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) Department of Field Support (DFS) Ref. 2015.15. Available from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/police/documents/Guidelines_Operations.pdf accessed on August 12, 2016.

  40. 40.

    United Nations Police (UNPOL) webpage on Serious and Organised Crime. Available from www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/sites/police/initiatives/transcrime.shtml accessed on August 12, 2016.

  41. 41.

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  42. 42.

    Email discussion between the author and PKSOI former Security Sector Analyst on July 18, 2016.

  43. 43.

    UNODC webpage on criminal intelligence. Available from https://www.unodc.org/documents/...crime/.../Criminal_Intelligence_for_Analysts.pdf, accessed on November 9, 2016.

  44. 44.

    Author’s discussion with US Advisor to UN Peace Keeping Operations, May 2017.

  45. 45.

    Originally known as the “5 Is” for five closest Intelligence agencies, often abbreviated as FVEY, these are the countries of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.

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    Telephone interview with US Advisor to UN Peace Keeping Operations, May 26, 2016.

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    Telephone interview with US Advisor to UN Peace Keeping Operations. May 26, 2016.

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Chido, D.E. (2018). United Nations Intelligence and Transnational Organized Crime Initiatives: Evolution and Lessons Learned. In: Intelligence Sharing, Transnational Organized Crime and Multinational Peacekeeping. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71183-6_3

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