WASHINGTON — The DHS Cyber Crimes Center and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit’s Columbus sub-office participated in the 4th International Cyber Offender Prevention Cybercrime Prevention Forum, held Nov. 19-21 at EUROPOL in The Hague, the Netherlands.
The event gathered experts from law enforcement agencies across 37 countries to share knowledge, develop joint cybercrime interventions, and explore new ways to address the growing threat of cybercrime.
The InterCOP network facilitates international cooperation to tackle cybercrime through a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional investigations. As part of this global initiative, HSI officials highlighted the importance of collaboration in preventing cybercrime.
“Law enforcement is not going to be able to combat cybercrime solely through an investigative approach,” said DHS C3 Deputy Assistant Director Mike Prado. “InterCOP brings together cybercrime professionals from around the world to attack this issue via a whole-society approach that incorporates public and private sector expertise.”
The forum emphasized the need for active engagement from both the public and private sectors, as their skills, resources, and influence are critical to extending the reach of government agencies and creating a safer digital environment. The forum also addressed the rising challenge of cyber offenders, many of whom are young individuals who possess valuable digital skills but may only encounter law enforcement after they’ve violated the law. By providing alternative pathways to legal and constructive careers, InterCOP aims to intervene and harness the talents of these individuals for societal benefit.
One of the standout contributions of the event was that of HSI Columbus Cyber Operations Officer Kirsten Minnie for her outstanding work in youth cybercrime prevention. Her efforts have been instrumental in advancing HSI’s mission to combat youth cybercrime, and her leadership has earned widespread support across the agency, from local offices to national levels.
“HSI’s commitment to addressing the root causes of cybercrime among youth reflects the agency’s broader strategy to combat cybercrime at every level,” said Minnie. “Our participation in InterCOP allows us to not only learn from global experts but also contribute our own insights to better protect society from cyber threats.”
“Successful enforcement strategies must have a prevention component and InterCOP is a preeminent example of global coordination and collaboration to this end,” concluded Prado.
The Cyber Crimes Center (C3) brings together highly technical assets to conduct cross-border criminal investigations of cyber-related crimes, combat cybercrime and criminal exploitation of the internet with state-of-the-art forensic technology. The center investigates large-scale cybercrime threats and provides expertise on cybercrime investigations to the field. It also uses global law enforcement networks to combat cybercrime threats.
C3 delivers computer and cyber-based technical services in support of HSI cases — including investigations into underground online marketplaces selling illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband; enabling the trade of images of child pornography; and facilitating the theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, and export-controlled technology and data.