Mozambique was highlighted this week at the United Nations as a reference for introducing an innovative model to combat terrorism and organized crime, based on direct collaboration between the government and private companies.
According to an official statement, during a side event at the 34th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, organized by UNODC with support from Japan, the Mozambican case was presented, where banks, telecom operators, and the justice system began working side by side — and results are already being seen.
Cabo Delgado, the province most affected by armed attacks since 2017, remains under constant threat despite military operations on the ground. But it was precisely in this difficult context that new solutions emerged. According to the organizers, Mozambique “took a step forward” by reducing the time for communication data delivery from three months to just 48 hours accessible to authorities. Ilídio José Miguel, director of the National Penitentiary System, reported that the country successfully closed its first terrorism financing case, thanks to the support of banks and telecom companies. “It was possible to track financial movements and cross-reference them with call data and locations,” he explained.
In the same vein, the Japanese ambassador in Vienna, Atsushi Kaifu, emphasized the value of cooperation between the justice system and the private sector. “This model has shortened the distance between investigation and evidence, speeding up responses in critical cases,” he noted.
Also, Roberto Arbitrio, UNODC official responsible for terrorism prevention, reminded that technologies continue to be misused by criminal networks and that it is necessary to keep pace with threats. “The only way to respond effectively is to involve all actors, including private ones,” he argued.
The Mozambican experience is now being viewed by other countries as a viable path to strengthen the justice system — especially in contexts where the state needs partnerships to act quickly and accurately. “The path is being made and can serve as a basis for a broader model in the region,” concluded Arbitrio.
Source: Diário Económico
