Interpol opens Manila meeting on crime

Police and security officers from 18 Asia-Pacific countries on Monday opened a three-day Interpol meeting on ways to combat organized crime in the region.

Photo: Interpol opens Manila meeting on crime

Interpol opens Manila meeting on crime

"This will enhance international police cooperation on transnational crimes, including terrorism, in this part of the world," Philippine National Police chief Arturo Lomibao said.

Police officials from the Philippines, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, Fiji, India and South Korea are among those attending, Lomibao said.

The meeting will also cover smuggling of drugs and weapons, human trafficking, money laundering, cyber crimes and credit card fraud, he said.

"We expect this meeting to give us a good understanding of the situation with regard to Asian organized crime groups, and it should allow us to map out the appropriate strategies and approaches for dealing with specific types of organized crime," Lomibao said.

Rolando Garcia, executive director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime, said the meeting seeks to improve international cooperation to respond to an upsurge in organized crime activities in the region through sharing of information and experiences.

"We aim to enhance the three Cs necessary for effective police operations, communication, coordination and cooperation, and use these to build the capability of local and national forces to respond to the emerging situation," Garcia said.

He said Interpol already has installed a high security global communication system that allows police from around the world to access databases and exchange information on anything from stolen or lost travel documents, stolen vehicles, missing persons, fugitives and suspected terrorists, reports the AP.