Data Mining, Cocaine and Secrecy

hightimes writes: "Business 2.0 uncovers one of the world's most sophisticated IT network in where else, Colombia. According to the story, Colombian drug cartels have spent billions of dollars to build a huge infrastructure that's helping them smuggle more dope than ever before." Even though this is about a raid that took place most of a decade ago, it's an interesting example of the power (and potential abuse) of large-scale data mining.

Comments

Technology is NOT the problem ..

[halgary]

While it is true that data mining technologies can be used for corrupt means, this is the same for any technology. A prime example would be file sharing networks. In themselves, not illegal, but when used to trade bad mp3s, very much so. It is unfortunate that these database technologies are being widely used for such illegal and semi-illegal purposes. And for those of you who don't know what data mining is all about, this site is an excellent resource.

Re:Technology is NOT the problem ..

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone mod the parent down for his porn link... Damn, don't moderators even check links?

Whew

[Monkeyman334]

Nice to know *somebody* is making money off of technology.

1: money laundering

[TripleRippleTroll]

...to scrub his profits, he and fellow money launderers use a private, password-protected website that daily updates an inventory of U.S. currency available from cartel distributors across North America, says a veteran Treasury Department investigator. Kind of like a business-to-business exchange, the site allows black-market money brokers to bid on the dirty dollars, which cartel financial chiefs want to convert to Colombian pesos to use for their operations at home. "A trafficker can bid on different rates -- 'I'll sell $1 million in cash in Miami,'" says the agent. "And he'll take the equivalent of $800,000 in pesos for it in Colombia." The investigator estimates the online bazaar's annual turnover at as much as $3 billion.

In 1999, I worked on this system. We took the eBay code that crack.com had leaked, and tweaked it. Since we had pirated eBay's code, we weren't bound by the burdensome terms of the GPL. It's hard to make money on Open Source these days. Fortunately, my employers know which parts to take, and which parts to leave. You just have to use the most appropriate tools and licenses as circumstances warrant. (Except we don't actually like people to say "warrant" around here, I'm sure you can understand.)

1: Data Mining

[TripleRippleTroll]

I think I understand the problem you're having, as I experienced something similar. The government data mining page contains a script that demonstrates how data mining works, similar in some ways to the scripts at anonymizer.com.

The problem is that it has a bug in the browser history analyzer. On some browsers or with some types of pages in the history, it accidently calls up that page. So even though it's supposed to just be showing your history, it may display an image from a site you were browsing earlier.

Re:Organized crime and technology

[Anonymous Coward]

I see you have not learnt any manners whilst I've been away.

You are still the same ill mannered little toe wrag studying at a jumped up Polytechnic North of London who knows so much because he sells goods to people and uses Daddy's money to surf the Net.

Get some manners, experience, knowledge and do something in life before mocking your betters.

As I've told you before, you know nowt, have experienced less and you have little to say that is relevant, informative or accurate.

Re:Article Revealing

[stoolpigeon]

This is a popular theory in the thread- DEA wanting to use this for more money but I fail to see the connection.

I think that view is much too cynical and simplistic.

But I don't hold the 'drug war' in such disdain as many here. I deal w/people whos lives have been devastated by drugs on a regular basis. I do not see that legalization would be a panacea of good for all involved.

And once again- you cannot just 'legalize' drugs and make problems go away. It's just not that simple.

Would everyone here like to legalize meth labs too? How about legalizing one in the house next door or the apartment below yours?

What's an explosion or two in your neighborhood?

Oh- maybe we shouldn't legalize everything.

Not too mention the utter silliness of the idea that legalizing drugs would drop prices and eliminate drug related crime. It just wouldn't happen. People will charge what the market will bear and addicts will bear anything to get a fix. Don't think so. In N.Y. City cigarettes now cost 7.50 a pack and people still buy them.

And since addicts can't hold jobs and drugs will never be free- they will always be stealing, mugging, etc. to feed their habit. Not to mention my cost for health care for the drug babies. And that wont stop after they are out of Pediatric ICU. They are damaged. They will grow up and become a burden on society- because their parents made poor life choices. The whole thing is sickening.

Well I'm getting all riled up and I know where this discussion is headed. Flame away-- it's just my opinion and I'm just stubborn enough to share it once in a while.

.

Re:Dopewars

[Anonymous Coward]

Why do you list the Windows version last, when it should be quite obvious that most people still use Windows and would therefore be interested in that version? Bigot.

Re:never get laid off due to bad business, but...

[microsoft.CLIT]

only fags like the cops use 9 millys. use a 45.