Colombia’s new intelligence service will focus on combating government infiltration by criminal organizations, said the high adviser for National Security Monday.
In an interview with newspaper El Tiempo, Sergio Jaramillo explained how the new intelligence agency will function.
The Direccion Nacional de Inteligencia (DNI) replaced the controversial DAS, which had turned into an “illegitimate organization” after being involved in numerous scandals, including the illegal wiretapping of government opponents, the involvement in the killing of labor leaders and drug trafficking.
According to Jaramillo, the DNI has been designed to be “more efficient and more transparent”.
While the agency’s planned actions include “typical intelligence tasks”, such as countering terrorism and espionage when they reach matter of national security, it will also have the specific mission of preventing the infiltration of organized crime in the government.
The adviser stated that this mission will “not be limited to corruption.”
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos officially dismantled the DAS last month.