Category: Interpol

Source: Interpol (news and events)

New York, USA – Officially taking up her post as INTERPOL’s new Special Representative to the United Nations, Roraima Ana Andriani becomes the first woman to head the office.

With a law enforcement career spanning more than 30 years at the national, regional and international levels, Ms Andriani will lead INTERPOL’s UN Office in New York which was established in 2004 to identify areas for enhanced cooperation between the two organizations.

Prior to her current appointment, she served as Acting Executive Director of Partnerships and Planning, overseeing INTERPOL’s strategic partnerships and fostering ties with regional and international bodies, including the United Nations.

During her meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres, Ms Andriani expressed her objective to bolster collaboration with the UN, particularly in combating environmental crime.

Ms Andriani also emphasized the imperative of promoting gender equality and engaging youth in meaningful dialogues, which are important initiatives of both organizations.

Founded in Vienna 100 years ago, INTERPOL is a long-standing facilitator of international police cooperation across its 195 member countries, providing a robust global framework to navigate the evolving landscape of international security.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

BANGKOK, Thailand – In just six hours, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system was able to create tens of thousands of chemical compounds that could be used as chemical weapons, demonstrating the potential for nefarious actors to exploit new technologies for lethal purposes.

Earlier this year, USB keys containing improvised explosive devices were delivered to several media stations in Ecuador, resulting in the publication of an INTERPOL Purple Notice to share critical crime-related information on new modus operandi.

Incidents such as these show how chemical threats are complex and varied, requiring a diverse set of strategies across the supply chain in order to combat them and strengthen global chemical security.

This week more than 300 experts from law enforcement, industry, international organizations, government and academia convened in Bangkok to share information, case studies and best practices on issues related to risk management, public/private partnerships and challenges in implementing effective chemical security.

Police Lieutenant General, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police said: “We need to stay one step ahead of criminals and terrorists in their pursuit to acquire dangerous chemicals to harm innocent lives. INTERPOL’s role in facilitating partnerships between law enforcement and government, as well as the private sector is key to ensuring that critical information is shared between the right people at the right time.”

Under the theme of Chemical Security in Action, this year’s plenary meeting also focused on emerging threats including nefarious use of 3D printing, pharmaceutical-based agents and AI.

Since its establishment in 2018, the Global Chemical Congress and Emerging Threats network has helped close security gaps by using a multi-sector approach and providing actionable information to participants.

A private chemical company in the United States improved its policies and procedures for transporting chemical goods following last year’s meeting as a direct result of sharing best practices and viewing INTERPOL’s awareness raising video, ‘The Watchmaker’, which highlighted potential vulnerabilities across the supply chain.

INTERPOL’s Counter-Terrorism Director, pro tempore, Catherine Colthart, said: “Breaking down silos and strengthening our relationships across every area of the chemical supply chain is the only way we can secure dangerous chemicals from getting into the wrong hands. Chemical security is a global responsibility, and the focus of this network remains in supporting the partnerships that enable law enforcement and the international community to tackle this threat effectively.”

The Global Chemical Congress is an international network of more than 1,500 experts. It is jointly led by INTERPOL, the U.S. Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the U.S. Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and implemented in cooperation with the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction. The Global Congress receives additional support from Global Affairs Canada and the U.S. Department of State.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

SINGAPORE – New types of cybercrime are emerging all the time. Manipulative and well-organized cybercriminals are exploiting digital technologies to tailor their attacks and target weaknesses in online systems, networks and infrastructures.
 
The complex and borderless nature of cybercrime is compounded by the involvement of transnational organized crime groups, underlining the need to mount an urgent, coordinated, and global response.
 
In the face of this evolving threat landscape, and the need for greater global connectivity, leaders from law enforcement, the private sector, international organizations and academia are meeting at INTERPOL’s Global Cybercrime Conference (15 – 17 October) in Singapore.
 
They will discuss new fields of cyber-attacks in order to stay ahead of future threats and help shape a more secure digital world.

Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs said: “Digital connectivity has made it easier for criminals to exploit new technologies to commit cybercrime, particularly scams, while hiding or masking their identities.”

“International cooperation with our foreign partners and international organizations such as INTERPOL is necessary to effectively crack down on scam syndicates and ultimately recover these lost monies. We need to collectively take action as a global community to better protect our people.”

The conference will focus in particular on enhancing cross-sector collaboration to prevent, detect, investigate, and disrupt cybercrime.

“Close international collaboration is essential, and this is where INTERPOL’s extensive partnership with law enforcement agencies as well as public and private sectors plays such a crucial role against such an insidious crime.”
 
Case studies featured at the conference include the notorious ‘phishing-as-a-service’ platform known as ‘16Shop’ which showed how deep and interconnected cybercrime has become.

The case involved criminals coordinating their activities across continents with advertising and selling ‘phishing kits’ that enabled affiliates to exploit Internet users.
 
Victims were sent deceptive emails containing pdf files or links. When accessed, these links led to sites designed to collect credit card or personal details.
 
Some 70,000 innocent users from 43 countries fell victim to the scam, inadvertently divulging personal information such as email accounts and passwords, ID cards, credit cards and telephone numbers.

From just a few clicks data was stolen, resulting in financial losses, identity theft, data breaches, operational disruptions, and psychological and emotional distress.
 
INTERPOL worked closely with Indonesia, Japan, the United States, as well as INTERPOL Gateway partners such as Group-IB, Palo Alto and Trend Micro, to take down the ’16Shop’ platform and its operators.
 
Participants at the INTERPOL Global Cybercrime Conference will also produce guidelines with best practices and recommendations for planning, coordinating and executing future activities against cybercrime.

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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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 26^th 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 100^th anniversary, the conference brings together more than 160 senior police leaders from 36 countries in Africa and around the world.

“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.”

Source: Interpol (news and events)

OSLO, Norway – INTERPOL is capitalizing on the many benefits of immersive learning to train law enforcement officers around the world on intellectual property (IP) crime investigations.

This week, the 450 participants from 70 countries in attendance at the 16th International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference (26-27 September) will test the Organization’s first immersive learning environments dedicated to IP crime. Through virtual reality headsets, they will experience how both extended reality technologies and the Metaverse can ensure greater engagement and enable hands-on operational exercises in environments which are not easily accessible.

Developed by INTERPOL, under the umbrella of the International IP Crime Investigators College (IIPCIC), the immersive learning training sessions take trainees from a virtual INTERPOL classroom to operational locations such as warehouses, crime scenes and crime labs. Officers are guided through the inspection and investigation process, where they can safely pick up counterfeit goods and examine potentially fraudulent documents.

The result is an increased opportunity to apply skills and knowledge, without the complications of physically accessing restricted areas such as Free Trade Zones, or the dangers of handling hazardous goods.

In his opening remarks, INTERPOL Secretary General said: “Through the use of immersive learning technology, we aim to turn world-class research into operational capabilities to empower law enforcement agencies, Free Trade Zone personnel and cross-sector stakeholders to be ready to cooperate.

“This complements the operational support we bring against global criminal threats around the clock, through the exchange of actionable police information, and operational coordination,” concluded Mr Stock.

This year’s theme: pathways to solutions

Applied research and technology is just one of the topics that will be covered by the 2023 International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference, which is cohosted by INTERPOL and the Norwegian Police Service in partnership with UL Standards & Engagement.

Delegates from government, law enforcement, academia, international organizations and industry will also look at the role of women in IP leadership, as well as the ever-increasing environmental risks of transnational organized IP crime.

Officials from the INTERPOL General Secretariat will be on hand throughout the event to collaboratively discuss investigations, enforcement activities, initiatives, and ideas to rethink international cooperation and mechanisms.

Welcoming delegates, Kristin Kvigne, Director General of Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service, said: “I would like to thank INTERPOL for giving Norway the opportunity to host this international conference on IP crime. It is also special to host the conference in the same year that INTERPOL celebrates its 100th year anniversary”.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

The 16th edition of the International Law Enforcement Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Conference will be cohosted by INTERPOL and the Norwegian Police Service, in partnership with UL Standards & Engagement.

Bringing together some 400 delegates under the theme of “Pathways to Solutions”, the three-day (25 to 27 September 2023) global conference will focus on three key areas of interest:

• Applied Research & Technology
• Leadership & Diversity (Women in IP Leadership)
•  Environmental Impact

For additional information on the event: https://iipcic.org/conference.php

Media invitation and registration

Members of the press are invited to attend the opening of the conference on 26 September at 0900.

A press conference with senior Norwegian and INTERPOL officials will be held immediately following the opening ceremony.

Journalists wishing to attend the event must apply for media accreditation by sending their full name and media outlet to kripos.info@politiet.no. A valid press card and identification will be required on the day.

Deadline for submission: 23 September 2023.

Any questions on accreditation can be directed to the Kripos press office on +47 23 20 80 60.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

LYON, France – France’s National Judicial Police has arrested 13 suspects linked to an organized crime group behind the large-scale theft and trafficking of SUVs to West Africa. The operation was the result of a two-year investigation involving six European countries, INTERPOL and Europol.

The criminal group, made up of French, Gambian and Senegalese nationals, benefited from a mobile and flexible criminal structure, where so-called “coordinators” would place orders for certain models of vehicles to car thieves located throughout France.

Once stolen, the vehicles would then be driven to various ports in Europe – often by minors – in order to be concealed in cargo containers and shipped to West Africa. Authorities have so far identified more than 170 vehicles that have been transported from Belgian, Dutch, French, German and Spanish ports.

On 12 September, more than 110 officers, including tactical and canine units, raided locations across France, resulting in the arrest of suspected thieves, logisticians and the two main “coordinators” in France of the criminal enterprise.

Officers seized car-theft equipment including illicit on-board diagnostic (OBD) port software, vehicle registration documents and cash. Real-time analysis of seized mobile phones pointed to containers carrying nine stolen vehicles, which were immediately intercepted in the ports of Le Havre, France and Las Palmas, Spain.

INTERPOL’s Stolen Motor Vehicle (SMV) unit has played a key role in supporting the investigation since 2021, through the analysis of data in INTERPOL’s SMV database, providing information on suspected routes, and deploying officers.

Stephen Kavanagh, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services, said: “Vehicle crime generates significant revenue for organized crime groups. We’ve seen that by sharing data between countries we can successfully disrupt their business model and ensure those responsible face justice.”

In 2022, around 278,000 motor vehicles worldwide were identified as stolen thanks to the SMV database. Some 135 countries shared national stolen vehicle data and carried out nearly 350 million searches.

Participating countries: France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

LYON, France – The Spanish National Police, in cooperation with the Spanish Tax Agency, Europol and INTERPOL, have dismantled an organized crime group suspected of fixing sporting events as well as using technology to place bets ahead of bookmakers.

So far, 23 suspects have been arrested, including one of the group’s leaders who was apprehended on the basis of an INTERPOL Red Notice for persons wanted internationally.

The operation began in 2020 when Spanish officers detected a series of suspicious online sports bets placed on international table tennis events. After analysing available data, investigators identified a criminal network of Romanian and Bulgarian origin.

Members of this crime ring fixed matches outside of Spain by corrupting athletes. Once the outcomes were agreed, crime group members based in Spain would then place online bets on a massive scale.

Getting ahead of bookmakers

Through their investigations, officers uncovered a criminal process whereby the group would access match information before bookmakers, allowing them to place bets with certainty and ultimately, cash in.  Through advanced technology, they gained access to live video signals from around the world, straight from stadiums, pitches and arenas. Intercepting these signals gave them a clear advantage on bookmakers, who were dependent on slower satellite feeds and relays for the same events.

The process was repeated across Asian and South American football leagues, UEFA Nations League, Bundesliga, Qatar 2022 World Cup matches and ATP and ITF tennis tournaments.

Despite collecting significant payouts, the group avoided detection by using a multitude of identities and accounts.

Among those arrested was a trader from a major bookmaker who, in collusion with the criminal group, would validate online bets placed by the criminal network.

INTERPOL Notices decisive

Through its Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre, INTERPOL worked closely with authorities throughout the investigation, fully mobilizing members of the INTERPOL Match-Fixing Task Force (IMFTF) and using the full range of the Organization’s global policing capabilities.

Three different INTERPOL Notices were published during the operation:

• A Purple Notice warning member countries of the modus operandi linked to the interception of satellite signals.
• A Blue Notice to obtain more information on the group’s leader.
• A Red Notice seeking the location and arrest of the group’s leader.

“Organized crime groups will exploit the tiniest of gaps given the opportunity. In this case, we’re talking about a 20 or 30 second advantage that led to significant gains,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

“Successful operations such as the one led by Spain only reaffirm our engagement in ensuring our entire suite of Notices, databases and expert networks fully support police in closing these gaps,” concluded Mr Stock.

IMFTF specialists were also deployed to Spain to work alongside officers during house raids, facilitating the extraction and analysis of data from seized devices, cross-checking information across INTERPOL’s databases, helping track assets and money laundering channels.

Some 47 bank accounts and 28 payment gateways were blocked across several countries. Seizures included mobile phones, satellite dishes and signal receivers, cash and counterfeit banknotes, credit and debit cards, identification documents and prepaid SIM cards.

Additional arrests are anticipated as officers work to identify more members of the group, as well as athletes who accepted bribes.

The outcomes of the operation were presented this week to IMFTF members during their annual meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in a dedicated session restricted to law enforcement.

Source: Interpol (news and events)

SINGAPORE – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy of India took a significant step towards enhancing international cooperation and bolstering law enforcement efforts by officially joining the INTERPOL Global Academy Network on 8 August as its 10th member.

The move will help enhance regional and global police capacity as well as foster collaboration among law enforcement agencies worldwide.

Launched in 2019, the INTERPOL Global Academy Network is led by INTERPOL’s Capacity Building and Training Directorate and aims to lead a global approach to law enforcement training.

By assisting INTERPOL in delivering specialized trainings on its policing capabilities, offering programmes of continuing education, jointly developing and delivering new training programmes, and collaborating on joint research projects, Network members support INTERPOL in expanding upskilling opportunities for law enforcement around the globe.

With a vast training catalogue and expertise, including advanced scientific investigations, cybercrime investigations, cyber forensics, economic crimes and anti-corruption, the CBI Academy of India will enrich the training offer available to INTERPOL member countries in the Asia region and beyond.

The online ceremony marking the CBI Academy’s entry into the INTERPOL Global Academy Network was attended by high-ranking officials from both parties, underlying the importance of forging lasting partnerships and promoting training and shared values on a regional and global scale.

Glenn Martindale, Director of the INTERPOL Capacity Building and Training Directorate, commented: “The CBI Academy’s inclusion in the Network […] is not only a recognition of its expertise in police training but also an acknowledgment of its willingness to share best practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned. By working together, we can tackle complex and evolving security challenges that transcend borders, uniting our efforts to safeguard our communities and promote justice on a global scale.”

The INTERPOL Global Academy Network is rapidly expanding and INTERPOL expects further members to join later in 2023.