The purpose of this paper is to address the interaction between intelligence activity and criminal investigation, in order to improve State capacity to deal with criminal organizations by controlling and identifying illegal money flows.
The analysis is based on the experience of the Prosecution Office of São Paulo, Brazil, which confirms how useful intelligence activity is in criminal cases, especially when it brings a consistent knowledge that provides not only criminal punishment, but also economic and administrative effects.
A knowledge produced by an intelligence activity can strengthen national regulation in order to make more transparent some financial operations, track illegal money, seize assets, improve mutual legal assistance and identify a wide range of criminals.
The paper shows that using intelligence activity in criminal investigations brings more effectiveness and a more strategic approach.
