5.1 It is essential that investigators should
have demonstrated criminal investigation skills and competencies,
as well as maritime knowledge/experience. Offenders are ultimately
land-based, and it is likely that it is on land that they will be
most vulnerable to detection. Associates may be prepared to give information
against them, for example, and it is there that they will be spending
the proceeds of their crime. It is also probable that offenders will
be involved in other offences such as smuggling irregular immigrants,
and useful intelligence may be lost if investigators are too compartmentalized
in their approach.
5.2 Conventional detective methods offer the best
chance of identifying and apprehending pirates and perpetrators of
armed robbery.
5.3 It may be appropriate to link anti-piracy
measures to anti-smuggling patrols or efforts to prevent illicit traffic
in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, thus minimizing duplication
of effort and saving resources. Wherever possible, an inter-agency
approach to investigation should be adopted.