Dr. Mohamed El Guindy, Senior Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Consultant UNODC, delivered sessions at the workshop on Financial and Open-Source Investigations in Trafficking and Smuggling Crimes
A specialized training workshop on Financial and Open-Source Investigations in Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Crimes was held in Rabat, Morocco (6–9 April 2026), organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The workshop brought together 25 officials from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Police, and the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie, to strengthen capacities against transnational organized crime through advanced financial investigations and open-source intelligence (OSINT).
The training highlighted how criminal networks have evolved into flexible, cross-border systems driven by globalization, rapid communication, and the movement of illicit financial flows and persons. As a result, proceeds of crime and actors are dispersed across multiple jurisdictions, requiring stronger national and international cooperation and information sharing.
A key focus was the role of financial investigations in disrupting trafficking and smuggling networks. These crimes involve significant financial dimensions, with criminals using complex laundering methods to conceal illicit proceeds. Financial investigations identify the origin of funds, trace their movement, and document their integration into the legitimate economy—providing critical evidence for prosecution, asset seizure, and network disruption.
Dr. Mohamed El Guindy, Senior Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Consultant UNODC, delivered sessions at this workshop, with involvement focused on Cyber Investigations, OSINT, hands-on case studies, and digital evidence from open sources. His contribution emphasized practical methodologies for leveraging OSINT in real-world financial crime investigations.
The training combined international best practices with hands-on exercises, case studies, and interactive discussions. Participants engaged in simulated investigations to enhance analytical skills, interagency cooperation, and cross-border information sharing.
By the end, participants strengthened their ability to conduct financial investigations, gather actionable intelligence, and combat trafficking and smuggling by targeting financial infrastructure.
This initiative reflects UNODC’s commitment to strengthening global financial crime investigation capabilities and dismantling transnational organized crime networks.