Intelligence, Counterintelligence and the Humint Service

Abstract

Justification: organized crime represents a growing challenge to public security and state stability, making it necessary to explore intelligence tools capable of understanding and anticipating the internal dynamics of criminal groups in order to intervene strategically. Objective: to evaluate the role of human sources as a strategic tool for approaching and combating organized crime, considering their integration with intelligence and counterintelligence. Methodology: the research was conducted with a qualitative approach, through a documentary review of 50 bibliographic sources, including academic, governmental, and international reports. Results: it was evidenced that HUMINT allows access to strategic information on the intentions, internal structures, and operational routes of criminal groups, information that cannot be obtained through technological or documentary means. When combined with direct, indirect, and managed sources along with maps, matrices, and pattern analysis, it optimizes operational planning. Social participation and interinstitutional cooperation strengthen information collection and the effectiveness of state interventions. HUMINT proves to be an indispensable resource for dismantling complex criminal networks and anticipating criminal behavior. Conclusion: Human sources constitute a strategic element for approaching organized crime, whose impact is maximized when articulated with intelligence, counterintelligence, and preventive strategies.