Category: Intelligence

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INTERPOL conference: Global security hinges on a safer Africa

Source: Interpol (news and events)

LUANDA, Angola:

While the amount of data that countries across the region share through INTERPOL systems has increased by 7 per cent in the past year, information-sharing in Africa remains below that of other world regions. This is despite strong commitment from African law enforcement to bolster their use of INTERPOL databases.

Significantly stepping up the exchange of police data within and beyond Africa is recognized as a necessary condition to effectively address global crime threats.

“INTERPOL’s tools and services automatically connect police forces internationally, but we have not fully exploited this investment,” said Garba Baba Umar, Vice-President for Africa on INTERPOL’s Executive Committee, who chaired the conference.

“We have a common vision for a safer Africa, set as a building block for the security of our globe,” Vice-President Umar added.

INTERPOL’s Africa strategy, which was adopted by delegates on the final day of the conference, will seek to strengthen the exchange of “actionable information” through a set of targeted projects.

Reinforcing strategic partnerships with the African Union and regional police chief organizations will also be prioritized, with initiatives such as the INTERPOL Support Programme for the African Union (ISPA) demonstrating tangible results.

“INTERPOL is a benchmark for successful cooperation. Because, without cooperation and exchange of information, global security and stability are threatened,” said Monique , Deputy Chairperson of the African Union.

“Every year, Africa loses on average USD 60 billion in illicit financial flows, and more than USD 140 billion to corruption. […] The African Union will continue to rely on African police through AFRIPOL, INTERPOL and police in member states to respond to these threats, Chairperson Nsanzabaganwa said.

Cyber wildlife investigations

Specific recommendations on strengthening cooperation against environmental crime and terrorism were also approved.

Noting that illegal online wildlife markets continue grow at an alarming rate, delegates agreed to monitor and assess advertisements and social media groups to verify the extent and nature of their content, as well as to initiate national cyber wildlife investigations.

INTERPOL’s Africa strategy notes that environmental crime continues to increase, further exacerbating the negative impact of climate change affecting the region.

A major source and transit region for environmentally sensitive commodities that are exploited and illegally trafficked to the rest of the world, Africa is a destination region for waste and other pollutants, often illegally trafficked and disposed of.

Terrorist activity has also increased in Africa, according to INTERPOL’s 2022 Global Crime Trend report, particularly since the territorial collapse of the Islamic State (Da’esh). Delegates resolved to leverage emerging technologies to better detect and disrupt terrorist movements across borders through increased regional and global police data-sharing.

A stronger regional presence

Africa hosts more INTERPOL member countries than any other region, representing nearly one third of the Organization’s membership. The continent also hosts four of INTERPOL’s six regional bureaus: in Abidjan, Harare, Nairobi and Yaoundé.  

Noting the need to strengthen Regional Bureaus as a tool to provide tailor-made support to African member countries, delegates agreed to enhance the analytical capacity of INTERPOL’s African regional bureaus by increasing the frequency and volume of data provided to them.

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Targeting logistics: drivers’ migrant smuggling cell dismantled in Bulgaria

Source: Europol

For the past months, officers from the Bulgarian General Directorate Combating Organised Crime have been investigating the network to establish the role the suspects have played in the migrant smuggling activities. The investigative activities established that this logistical migrant smuggling cell facilitated the transportation by car of irregular migrant from the eastern part of Bulgaria (the cities of Burgas and…

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Europol participates in joint investigation team into alleged core international crimes in Ukraine

Source: Europol

The JIT was set up on 25 March 2022 by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine with Eurojust’s support. On 31 May 2022, Estonia, Latvia and Slovakia became members, followed by Romania on 13 October 2022. On 3 March 2023, the JIT’s seven national authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Department of Justice. Eurojust, the Office of the…

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NATO Allies and partners address Small Arms and Light Weapons control in Jordan

Source: NATO

NATO and partner country Jordan co-hosted a conference on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control in Amman on 3 and 4 October 2023. The event was the first of its kind on SALW organised with partner countries, as part of NATO’s defence and related security capacity building package for Jordan.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on initiatives, lessons learned, and best practices in SALW control in the Middle East and North Africa in particular, and to exchange views on challenges and potential solutions at regional and global levels. The participants included high-ranking officials from Allied and partner countries, along with representatives from international organisations including the United Nations, the European Union, the League of Arab States, Interpol and the World Customs Organisation.

The first three panels addressed challenges and initiatives undertaken at national, regional and global level respectively. The fourth panel focused on the impact that recent developments in manufacturing, technology and design of SALW have on the efforts to tackle the illicit trafficking of these weapons.

NATO has a long track record of contributing to SALW control. NATO supports partner countries in this area through various projects, including providing training courses, helping in the destruction of excess stockpiles of SALW and ammunition, assisting in the construction of infrastructure, and providing equipment. NATO has established an ad hoc working group on SALW and mine action that meets regularly in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) format. This forum of 50 NATO and partner countries is a key platform for information sharing, policy coordination and project implementation. 

NATO supports the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in SALW, adopted in July 2001. NATO has contributed to UN efforts to develop international standards for ammunition life-cycle management. NATO has also published guidelines on gender mainstreaming in the area of SALW based on International Small Arms Control Standards and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. 

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Europol and TikTok collaborate to bolster efforts against terrorist content

Source: Europol

TikTok regularly publishes content removal statistics for violent extremism content in its quarterly transparency reports. The latest report shows that TikTok proactively removed 95% of violent extremism content. As part of the joint exercise, some 2 145 pieces of content were assessed and flagged to TikTok for voluntary review against their terms of service. Among the referred content were items…

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Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer attends 10th edition of the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland

Source: NATO

On 3-4 October 2023, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer attended the 10th edition of the Warsaw Security Forum (WSF) in Poland. While at the WSF, the Chair received the Knight of Freedom on behalf of NATO. He also met with a number of high-level political and military officials. Among the leading European platforms devoted to transatlantic cooperation, the forum serves as a timely platform to deepen discussions on shared responses to today’s common security challenges.

On 3 October 2023, Admiral Bauer spoke at the first event of the day, titled “Europe at War: Beefing Up of NATO’s Collective Defence”. Moderated by (Retired) Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Former Commander of US Army Europe, the panel also featured the Minister of Defence of North Macedonia, Mrs Slavjanka Petrovska; the Minister of State (Minister for Armed Forces) of the United Kingdom, Mr James Heappey; and the Minister of Defence of Slovenia, Mr Marajan Šarec.
 
The panellists discussed the implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine for Europe as well as for NATO’s biggest overhaul of its defensive shield since the Cold War. Elaborating on how decades of defence underinvestment have now left NATO countries with their ammunition warehouses either half-full or even emptier, Admiral Bauer stated: “The next steps in collective defence will need close and proactive cooperation between the public and the private sector. There is so much more we can achieve together. NATO is stronger and readier than ever.”
 
On the sidelines of the event, Admiral Bauer also had the opportunity to sit with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Olha Stefanishyna to exchange views on the current developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Chair reiterated that Ukrainian people, military and civilian alike, are “steadily taking back what’s theirs”, adding that “they have our full and unwavering support. Ukraine will prevail and we will help them every step of the way”.
 
Later that day, Admiral Bauer accepted the Knight of Freedom Award on behalf of the Alliance. One of Poland’s most important foreign policy and human rights award, the Casimir Pulaski Foundation chose to bestow it on NATO in recognition for its role in promoting peace and security in Europe; its strong Collective Defence; and its efforts in cooperative security, especially with regards to the relentless support to Ukraine. Receiving the award, the Chair of the NATO Committee highlighted the work done by the 3.2 million men and women in uniform across the Alliance, commending their sense of duty and devotion to putting “the We before the Me”.
 
On the second day of the forum, Admiral Bauer sat on a panel with Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Rajmund Andrzejcazk and Member of the Finnish Parliament, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Mrs Tytti Tuppurainen. Speakers debated the implications of the Vilnius Summit for the Alliance and for Central and Eastern Europe, with a specific focus on the strengthening of NATO’s Eastern Flank. 
 
Commenting on NATO’s priorities as we look at the Washington Summit, Admiral Bauer highlighted the importance of ensuring full executability of the Regional Plans – through  more troops on higher readiness; capability building and development; adaptation of NATO’s command and control structures; more enablement; and more collective defence training and exercises. “These plans are all part of the new era of collective defence for the Alliance. In a more dangerous and competitive world, we must continue to invest more and invest more together in NATO,” stated the Admiral relaunching a strong message of unity. “Our resolve to protect the one billion citizens that live on Allied soil remains unwavering. Every day, we build on the strong ties between Allies and harvest the centuries of military expertise that we all possess,” he added.
 
At the margins of the Warsaw Security Forum, Admiral Bauer also held bilateral meetings with General Andrzejczak; Poland’s Deputy Minister of Defence and Secretary of State, Mr Marcin Ociepa; as well as with Mrs Kajsa Ollongren, Mr Angel Tîlvăr and Mr Pål Jonson, respectively Ministers of Defence of The Netherlands, Romania and Sweden. During his exchange with General Andrzejczak, Admiral Bauer praised Poland’s steadfast commitment to the Alliance since 1999. Among other things, Poland is home to two NATO Force Structure headquarters – the Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin and the Multinational Division North East in Elblag –; and additionally, in 2024 it will host Steadfast Defender 24, NATO’s largest collective defence exercise in recent years. “Poland makes valuable contributions to our shared security to ensure our Alliance remains strong and ready to deter and defend as required. A strong national security is an essential pillar of our collective security,” noted the Chair, commending the country’s substantial ramp up in military and defence spending.
 
Organised since 2014 by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, in strategic partnership with NATO and the National Security Bureau to the President of the Republic of Poland, the Warsaw Security Forum gathers annually over 1500 high representatives of governments, international organisations, industry, think tanks and civil society from over 90 countries. 

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NATO-Ukraine Council meets to take forward Vilnius Summit decisions

Source: NATO

The NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC) met on Wednesday (4 October 2023) to reaffirm NATO’s long-term support to Ukraine and take forward the decisions from the Vilnius Summit. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană, with the participation of Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.

The Deputy Secretary General stressed that Ukraine’s security is of great importance to the Alliance. He commended Allies and Ukraine’s efforts to quickly implement decisions from the Vilnius Summit. Allies continue to provide substantial assistance to Ukraine, including through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance package, and are taking forward important work to ensure Ukraine’s forces are fully interoperable with NATO. All of this means that Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before. 

The NATO-Ukraine Council is a joint body where Allies and Ukraine meet for crisis consultations and to take decisions as equals. Today was the third meeting of the NUC since its first meeting at the Vilnius Summit in July with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The NUC also met with ambassadors in July to discuss the serious security situation in the Black Sea.

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INTERPOL conference calls for a common security agenda for a safer Africa

Source: Interpol (news and events)

LUANDA, Angola: Addressing the growth in transnational organized crime and increasing terrorism, police representatives from across Africa are attending INTERPOL’s 26th African Regional Conference to discuss a regional and global response to make communities and countries safer.

Taking place as the global police organization marks its 100th anniversary, the conference brings together more than 160 senior police leaders from 36 countries in Africa and around the world.

Esperança Maria Eduardo Francisco da Costa, Vice-President of the Republic of Angola

Commissioner General of the Angolan National Police, Arnaldo Manuel Carlos

Manuel Gomes da Conceição Homem, Governor of the Province of Luanda

Angolan dignitaries with members of the INTERPOL Executive Committee

Garba Baba Umar, INTERPOL Vice-President for Africa

INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi

Opening ceremony at the 26th INTERPOL African Regional Conference

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said that today’s common threat landscape means that cooperation must be as seamless as it is global.

Opening ceremony at the 26th INTERPOL African Regional Conference

Opening ceremony at the 26th INTERPOL African Regional Conference

PREVIEW 160 delegates from 36 countries gather at the 26th INTERPOL African Regional Conference

“These meetings provide opportunities to strengthen relationships, boost cooperation and, ultimately, improve law enforcement efforts,” said Arnaldo Manuel Carlos, Commissioner General of the Angolan National Police. “Every member country should make full use INTERPOL’s resources and police communications platform.”

Over three days (3-5 October), delegates will discuss the strengthening of international police cooperation in Africa, including continued coordination with regional police organizations such as AFRIPOL.

“This conference brings together INTERPOL member countries from across a very important region,” said INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi. “In a world where criminals know no borders, our discussions aims to reinforce the safety of the African people and continent.”

In his opening statement, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock sounded the alarm on simultaneous crises – from geopolitical instability to climate change and supply chain disruptions – and how this “polycrisis” is already being exploited by criminals.

“All the while, transnational organized crime keeps planning, targeting, hitting – and keeps getting more global,” said Secretary General Stock.

Borderless crimes

Recent INTERPOL-coordinated operations demonstrate the scale of the threat posed by organized crime groups in Africa. In the past year, INTERPOL operations with African law enforcement have led to more than 2,400 arrests, with over EUR 126 in illicit flows seized or intercepted.

Driven largely by drug trafficking and cyber-enabled crime, organized crime groups also exploit the continent’s natural resources and vulnerable communities, extracting vast sums through human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

A primary focus of the conference is the challenge of seemingly borderless threats such as cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes, which have seen a huge increase since COVID-19, causing considerable damage to businesses, critical infrastructure, and Internet users around the world.

Two recent INTERPOL operations targeting Black Axe and other West-African organized crime groups resulted in more than EUR 3 million in illicit proceeds seized or frozen, and more than 200 bank accounts blocked.

Black Axe and similar groups are responsible for the majority of the world’s cyber-enabled financial fraud, as well as many other serious crimes.

Emerging and persistent forms of terrorism in Africa will also be a topic of discussion. Just last April, INTERPOL efforts with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Somalia Tanzania and Uganda led to the arrest of 14 terror suspects.

Supporting the African frontlines

At the centre of tackling Africa’s crime threats is greater information-sharing, the lifeblood of international police cooperation. African member countries’ use of INTERPOL databases has traditionally lagged behind that of other world regions, although significant progress has been made.

In the past year alone, police data shared by African police increased by 7 per cent while use of INTERPOL databases grew by 26 per cent.

INTERPOL’s secure police communications network I-24/7 has also been extended successfully beyond National Central Bureaus in 47 African member countries.

“We operate in a common threat landscape, and cooperation across regions must be as seamless as it is global,” said Secretary General Stock.

“In our centenary year, INTERPOL is more resolved than ever to support the African frontlines and enhance their potential.”

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NATO Secretary General stresses enduring support for Ukraine in call with President Biden, transatlantic leaders

Source: NATO

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined NATO’s enduring support for Ukraine in a call with transatlantic leaders on Tuesday (3 October 2023). “As Russia continues its brutal war we are all committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Mr Stoltenberg said. The call was hosted by US President Joe Biden, bringing together G7 leaders with NATO and European Union leadership, as well as Poland and Romania as co-chairs of the Bucharest Nine (B9) group.

Mr Stoltenberg stressed the importance of continued support to Ukraine as the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace. He welcomed that Allies are sharing the burden equitably, with around half of the military support pledged for Ukraine coming from the US, and the other half from European Allies and Canada. He also highlighted the steps taken at the Vilnius Summit to bring Ukraine closer to the Alliance than ever before – including the removal of the requirement for a Membership Action Plan, the establishment of the NATO-Ukraine Council, and a major package to achieve full interoperability of the Ukrainian forces with NATO. 
 
The Secretary General visited Kyiv on 28 September, expressing NATO’s strong support in meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his government. The following day, Mr Stoltenberg delivered a video address to the first meeting of the International Defence Industry Forum in Kyiv, stressing that “Ukraine needs capabilities: high quality, high quantity, and quickly.”