Investigation of and Intelligence Activities on Human Trafficking in Organized Crime Groups

Abstract

Criminal acts resulting from the operation of organized crime groups are usually revealed by an undercover information collection prior to  investigations. Undercover information collection constitutes a lawful action from the part of the Police, carried out with the purpose of crime prevention. Undercover information collection is an official intelligence activity, which is not part of the undercover data obtainment under the Criminal Procedure Act.4 Obtainment and use of collected, legally relevant  and interpreted data in court proceedings often poses a sensitive issue.  Suspicion of human trafficking generally arises during such authority  activities, however, infiltrating in closed Romani groups and carrying out  intelligence activities in their circles is almost impossible. Perhaps this is  one of the reasons for high latency. The investigating authority seldom  initiates undercover information collection just to take measures to combat  human trafficking. Often, they start an undercover surveillance in the wake  of other, connected crimes or money laundering revealed through criminal  acts damaging the budget or violating the order of economy. In such cases,  the data obtained are not so much relevant to this type of crimes. If the  acquired information is sufficient to evidence human trafficking, it won’t  satisfy the requirements set out in section 206/A of Act XIX of 1998 (CPA) to  wait for data and evidences with regards to further criminal acts.