Source: Interpol (news and events)
The officials discussed intensifying cooperation to combat the continent’s most powerful organized crime groups.
LYON, France: Senior police leaders from eleven South American countries met in Brasilia on Thursday to address the growing threat posed by transnational organized crime groups.
The fourth INTERPOL Chiefs of Police meeting for South America allowed the officials to share insights into their respective efforts against organized crime and contribute to a regional plan to combat specific crime groups.
In his remarks to the police leaders, INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said:
“Criminal groups from South America are continually expanding their reach throughout and beyond the region, where one in every three INTERPOL Notices is related to organized crime.
“This meeting offers a dedicated space to reinforce regional police cooperation and fight organized crime effectively on a global scale.”
Representatives at the meeting will include seven police chiefs and four deputy police chiefs from the eleven countries.
The first INTERPOL Chiefs of Police meeting for South America took place in 2018 to strengthen ties between law enforcement within the region and to foster greater information-sharing.
South American police records shared through INTERPOL have since doubled and countries in the region have played leading roles in recent INTERPOL initiatives targeting organized crime, such as INTERPOL cooperation against the ‘Ndrangheta (I-CAN) and the Silver Notice pilot.
INTERPOL’s Regional Bureau in Buenos Aires, Argentina helps coordinate operational work in the region, tackling crimes such as child sexual abuse, corruption, cybercrime, human trafficking, money laundering and terrorism.
Police leaders from the following countries participated in the fourth INTERPOL Chiefs of Police meeting: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.