MOCA boosts cyber-forensic capabilities to combat ‘digital criminals’

The Major Organised and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) is intensifying its efforts to tackle cybercrime, acknowledging the evolving sophistication of modern-day criminals.

MOCA's Director General, Colonel Desmond Edwards, underscored the agency's focus on building cyber-forensic capabilities at a public lecture on cybersecurity and cybercrime at the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) in St Andrew on Wednesday. It was held under the theme, 'Tackling cybercrime through strategic partnership', and was staged in collaboration with MOCA and MSBM.

"Organised crime, fraud and corruption now bear the fingerprints of digital methodologies," declared Edwards in his address.

"Cybercriminals today are not just tech-savvy individuals operating in isolation; they are organised networks that are adaptive and are constantly involved in identity theft, intellectual property violations, trafficking, (and) these have all moved into the cyber realm," he argued.

To combat this, Edwards said MOCA is enhancing its cyber investigative expertise.

"... Our response must now match the sophistication of the digital criminals. This is why MOCA has put focus on building cyber-forensic and cyber investigative expertise in aligning our strategies to meet these unique demands," he informed.

Part of the response also includes strengthening partnerships with the private and public sectors.

"But expertise alone is not enough. Partnership is key to meet the scale of this threat... Collaboration between Government, law enforcement and private sector, is critical," Edwards pointed out.

"Together we're stronger... not just only to understand the threats before us now, but to anticipate those on the horizon, to be proactive, rather than reactive," he added.

He further highlighted the far-reaching impact of cyber threats on communities, the economy and national sovereignty.

"... We must use every resource at our disposal to defend against that (threat)," Edwards indicated.