Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the government of Peru announced the establishment of a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) to create a verified unit in the country to assist in transnational criminal investigations. The memorandum of cooperation was signed by HSI’s Deputy Director of International Operations, David Magdycz, and the Commander General of the Peruvian National Police, Jorge Angulo, on September 15. Ambassador of Peru to the United States, Gustavo Meza Cuadra, was also present at the signing ceremony.
“The Peruvian National Police and HSI share a strong working relationship and have had many successes in combating human trafficking and child exploitation. This memorandum and the TCIU are the next critical step between our agencies coming together against criminal organizations that use violence and intimidation to profit from vulnerable populations throughout South America, specifically in Peru,” Magdycz said.
“Peru and the United States share a deep commitment to combat transnational crime, terrorism and other threats that affect the stability and security of our nations, therefore, transnational criminal organizations must be addressed in a systematic and multidimensional manner,” said Angulo. “The Peruvian National Police, together with Homeland Security Investigations, is signing this memorandum as a tool to confront and combat this problem and reduce illicit activities through coordinated efforts.”
“This agreement marks a significant milestone in U.S.-Peru collaboration to address urgent challenges that affect not only our countries, but also global communities and the region,” said Ambassador Meza.
The effectiveness of HSI’s international counter-narcotics efforts is greatly enhanced by the TCIU program. TCIUs play essential roles that advance HSI investigations and assist in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that pose a direct threat to national and border security.
HSI TCIUs help advance its global mission by working with foreign partners to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activities that threaten the stability and national security of the region and pose a continuing threat to the United States. TCIUs identify targets, collect evidence, share intelligence, and facilitate prosecutions in the United States and other countries.
The TCIU program was launched in September 2011 and has more than 600 verified and trained foreign law enforcement officers in 15 locations in North America, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. In FY 2022, TCIUs efforts worldwide resulted in 3,800 criminal arrests and the seizure of nearly $18.6 million and more than 350,000 pounds of narcotics and precursor chemicals.
HSI is the lead investigative agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees includes more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents the largest DHS investigative law enforcement presence overseas and one of the largest international law enforcement outreaches in the United States.
Source: U.S. EMBASSY IN PERU
