Financial Crime World

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Puerto Rico Financial Institutions Targeted by Criminal Organizations: DHS Works to Prevent Illicit Activities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is leading a unified effort to combat criminal organizations that are targeting Puerto Rico’s financial institutions with illegal activities. As part of this initiative, DHS is working with stakeholders to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons, drugs, money, and migrants into the island and its surrounding waters.

Disrupting Transnational Criminal Organizations

DHS has identified transnational criminal organizations as a major threat to Puerto Rico’s financial stability. These groups are responsible for smuggling drugs, weapons, and money into the island, which in turn funds their illegal activities. To combat this threat, DHS is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute members of these organizations.

Key Points:

  • Transnational criminal organizations are a major threat to Puerto Rico’s financial stability
  • These groups smuggle drugs, weapons, and money into the island
  • DHS is working with local law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute members of these organizations

Enhancing Intelligence Gathering

DHS is utilizing advanced intelligence gathering techniques to stay ahead of criminal organizations. The agency is leveraging its intelligence capabilities to identify and target criminal enterprises involved in weapons, drugs, and money smuggling/laundering to and from Puerto Rico.

Key Points:

  • DHS is using advanced intelligence gathering techniques
  • The agency is identifying and targeting criminal enterprises involved in illegal activities
  • This includes drugs, weapons, and money smuggling/laundering

Supporting Local Law Enforcement

DHS is working closely with local law enforcement agencies to enhance their capacity to combat crime. This includes providing training and resources to help them build a stronger presence on the streets and engage more effectively with the community.

Key Points:

  • DHS is working closely with local law enforcement agencies
  • The agency is providing training and resources to help combat crime
  • This includes building a stronger presence on the streets and engaging with the community

Operation Unified Resolve

As part of its efforts to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking, DHS has launched Operation Unified Resolve. This operation aims to deter, detect, and disrupt the flow of drugs, weapons, money, and migrants into Puerto Rico’s waters.

Key Points:

  • Operation Unified Resolve is a joint effort to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking
  • The operation aims to deter, detect, and disrupt illegal activities in Puerto Rico’s waters

High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)

DHS is also working through its HIDTA program to disrupt drug trafficking on and around Puerto Rico. This program brings together DHS components, including CBP, ICE, USCG, and USSS, to target drug trafficking organizations.

Key Points:

  • HIDTA is a program aimed at disrupting drug trafficking
  • The program brings together DHS components to target drug trafficking organizations

Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST)

The BEST task force is a collaboration between CBP, USCG, ATF, Puerto Rico Police Department, San Juan Police Department, Colombian national police, Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and Puerto Rican treasury. This effort focuses on securing the Puerto Rican border and preventing illegal activities from entering the island.

Key Points:

  • BEST is a joint task force focused on securing the Puerto Rican border
  • The task force includes multiple agencies and organizations

Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center (CAMOC)

DHS is utilizing advanced radar surveillance capabilities at its CAMOC to counter airborne drug smuggling.

Key Points:

  • CAMOC is using advanced radar surveillance capabilities to counter airborne drug smuggling

International Partnerships

DHS is expanding its international partnerships and agreements to facilitate joint operations and response to illicit smuggling into Puerto Rico. The agency is working closely with partner nations, including the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and others, to share intelligence and coordinate efforts to combat criminal organizations.

Key Points:

  • DHS is expanding its international partnerships
  • The agency is working with partner nations to share intelligence and combat criminal organizations

Take Back Our Neighborhood

DHS is also supporting local law enforcement efforts through the “Take Back our Neighborhood” strategy for high-crime housing projects in the region. This initiative aims to build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community, reduce crime, and enhance public safety.

Key Points:

  • DHS is supporting local law enforcement efforts
  • The agency is working on building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the community

Continued Efforts

DHS is committed to continuing its efforts to combat criminal organizations that target Puerto Rico’s financial institutions. The agency will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies, international partners, and other stakeholders to disrupt the flow of illegal activities into the island and protect the financial stability of the region.

Key Points:

  • DHS is committed to continued efforts
  • The agency will continue to work with local law enforcement agencies, international partners, and others to combat criminal organizations