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the training brought together 22 officers (including 7 women) from key national institutions, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) successfully conducted a specialized training course on investigating firearms trafficking on the dark web in Jamaica from 17 to 21 March 2025. Organized under Project SALIENT, the training brought together 22 officers (including 7 women) from key national institutions, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), and the Financial Investigations Division (FID).
As the dark web remains a significant platform for illicit firearms trafficking, this initiative aimed to enhance the investigative capabilities of Jamaican authorities in tackling these complex cases. The training covered a wide range of critical topics, equipping participants with the skills needed to navigate and investigate criminal activities within the hidden layers of the internet.
The agenda featured sessions on the distinctions between the surface web, deep web, and dark web, as well as how criminals exploit these platforms for illegal activities. Participants received practical guidance on using tools such as Tor and VPNs while maintaining operational security (OpSec) to prevent digital footprint exposure. Hands-on training was provided in specialized software used to track and monitor illegal activities related to firearms trafficking.
Participants learned to navigate the dark web securely, identify illegal marketplaces, and analyze their structures to understand how illicit firearms transactions take place. They gained hands-on experience in recognizing key platforms where firearms, parts, and ammunition are traded and in detecting the tactics traffickers use to conceal their activities. Through practical exercises, they explored vendor profiles, monitored communication channels, and assessed transaction patterns to gather intelligence on illicit networks. The training also emphasized safe interaction techniques, ensuring that investigators could operate covertly while minimizing exposure risks.
Sessions also focused on developing effective strategies for identifying key leads, gathering evidence, and profiling traffickers and networks. Investigators explored how cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Monero, are used in illicit transactions and examined their key differences from traditional financial systems. Blockchain analysis techniques were covered, including training on blockchain explorers, tracing illicit transactions, and following the flow of funds to identify wallet addresses linked to criminal activities. Additionally, participants learned techniques for identifying, seizing, and investigating digital assets, as well as the legal considerations involved in cryptocurrency seizures and cooperation with financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges. The training also addressed the role of encryption in criminal activities and how law enforcement can utilize decryption techniques, including PGP, in investigations.
The training was highly interactive, incorporating practical exercises such as Hands-On Bitcoin, where participants created wallets and conducted transactions on the testnet to gain firsthand experience in cryptocurrency investigations.
The successful completion of this training marks a significant step in strengthening Jamaica’s ability to combat firearms trafficking facilitated through the dark web. By enhancing the technical and investigative skills of law enforcement and regulatory authorities, UNODC continues to support Jamaica in its efforts to disrupt illicit firearms networks and improve national security.
The UNODC Firearms Trafficking Section remains committed to fostering regional cooperation and capacity-building to address the evolving challenges of organized crime, ensuring a coordinated and effective response to firearms trafficking across the Caribbean.
Story produced by Unite Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Original story posted here
