National Intelligence Service (Brazil)

From Worldatplay

National Intelligence Service
Established	December 7, 1964
Director	Fernando do Couto Figueiredo
Budget	Classified
Employees	Classified
Address	SPO Área 05, Quadra 01, Bloco A
Website	www.sni.gov.br

The National Intelligence Service (Portuguese: Serviço Nacional de Informações, or "SNI") is the intelligence agency of the government of Brazil. Its primary function is collecting and analyzing information about foreign governments and persons in order to advise public policymakers. It gathers this information by means of espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. It can provide the following services for the national government:

• provide analysis in areas relevant to national security;
• give early warning of impending crises;
• serve national and international crisis management by helping to discern the intentions of current or potential opponents;
• inform national defense planning and military operations;
• protect secrets, both of their own sources and activities, and those of other state agencies;
• may act covertly to influence the outcome of events in favor of national interests; and
• may involve itself in defensive activities such as counter-espionage or counter-terrorism

Little information about the structure or inner workings of the SNI exists, due to the extremely secretive policy of the organization and the sensitive nature its operations entail. Even the number of employees on its payroll remains unknown, and is highly disputed. Reports which occasionally surface about the organization are neither confirmed nor denied by the government.

What is known is that the SNI coordinates its actions with the Army Intelligence Center (Centro de Informações do Exército, or CIE), Naval Intelligence Center (Centro de Informações de Marinha, or Cenimar), and Air Force Intelligence Agency (Centro de Informações da Aeronáutica, or CISA). The branch chiefs of staff regularly meet to consult with each other and compile a joint intelligence report which is then submitted to the Prime Minister. The SNI is also believed to cooperate regularly with the DGSE, SAVAK, and other allied intelligence agencies, although no hard evidence exists to prove this.

Members receive training at the National Intelligence School (Escola Nacional de Informações, or EsNI). The training standards are said to be among the most strict in the world, and few applicants successfully pass the training regimen. Supposedly, select members of the Congolese-Zairian armed forces are currently receiving training in counter-terrorism operations at the institute.

While no information on any of its operations (past, present, or future) is available, most experts believe the SNI to be one of the most efficient intelligence agencies in the world.