Using data analytics to target human smugglers

Crunching data quickly
Until recently, when on the trail of human smugglers, HSI special agents would be tasked with the slow and arduous chore of sifting through large amounts of data—often by hand. As one can imagine, manually comparing and correlating multiple sources of data and looking for connections can take a lot of time. And time is a critical commodity.

With the launch of Igloo, law enforcement now has an advanced set of tools at their fingertips, explained McEntee. Igloo leverages machine learning algorithms to search databases looking for patterns and anomalies. 

Agents can use Igloo to scour multiple sources and then track, triangulate, and swiftly translate the telltale signs of this type of criminal activity into actionable intelligence. To further support efficient use of agents’ valuable time, the software is built to have a user-friendly graphical interface.

McEntee explained that the Igloo software can quickly cross-reference and cross-correlate data from multiple sources. It finds commonalities and then builds a framework for law enforcement to use.

The current version of Igloo is deployed as a “beta” model. This early version of the technology is deployed for testing purposes to inform future versions. The preliminary results are quite promising.

In the future, S&T plans to transition Igloo to other offices within ICE. McEntee noted that other law enforcement who have similar needs and obstacles could also benefit from the tool.

The benefits of Igloo
This new technology and its potential in the future can directly help agents in the field because sometimes, chasing TCOs can be like chasing ghosts. One minute they might have a lead, but by the time they put all the pieces together, the criminals might be gone.

“Igloo puts good intelligence into the hands of agents so they can act on it” S&T says. “Its cutting-edge capabilities are allowing investigators to not only find new targets, but also deepen their understanding of how TCO networks operate and communicate. Additionally, Igloo is a wholly owned government project, so there are no licensing fees associated with its use or its distribution to agencies.”

With the deployment of Igloo, a greater ability to combat the TCOs is now in the hands of those who need it the most.