Secretary General of Interpol Jürgen Stock recently addressed the Chiefs of Police Conference of South Asia and Neighboring Countries, stating that regional and global police cooperation has never been more essential in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.
“In today’s world, timely sharing of information through trusted channels can save lives,” Stock said. “Unchecked financial activity, criminal recruiting from vulnerable communities, or procuring of illicit weapons in one part of the world can lead to deadly consequences elsewhere. In our digital age, crime can strike in a few seconds.”
Stock’s address comes in the wake of Bangladesh’s decision to expand Interpol’s I-24/7 secure communications system to its borders. The system aims to enhance law enforcement cooperation across national borders to address various threats, such as terrorism and financial crimes, throughout South Asia.
The secretary general said the system serves as a “global early warning system” against both terrorists and organized crime threats.
“Today’s threat landscape means that the need for information sharing is all-encompassing; whether between countries located in distant parts of the world, in neighboring regions, or even just next door to each other,” Stock said.
In May 2016, Bangladesh took part in an international Interpol operation that targeted specific criminal networks that were engaged in human smuggling, which resulted in the arrest of at least 60 individuals worldwide.