For information only - not an official document
UNIS/MA/38
6 December 2013
Speakers:
Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Mehmet Yeşilkaya, Head of Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department (KOM) of the Turkish National Police.
Crime fighting agencies from across the world meet in Istanbul on 12-13 December to discuss the coordination of their efforts to confront illicit drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
"Today's criminals have widespread networks and vast resources; if we are to successfully confront them, we must 'network our own networks' to ensure greater cross border cooperation, information sharing and tracking of criminal proceeds," said Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC.
The initiative is part of an inter-regional drug control approach developed by UNODC to stem illicit drug trafficking from Afghanistan and focuses on promoting closer cooperation between existing law enforcement coordination centres and platforms.
"Transnational features of drug smuggling, which is a crime against humanity, make cooperation a must for law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement agencies must strengthen their cooperation and communication and greatly take advantage of the opportunities for strategic and operational cooperation presented by regional and international organizations,"noted Mehmet Yeşilkaya, Head of KOM Department, TNP
Centres such as the Central Asian Regional Information Coordination Centre (CARICC), the Gulf Criminal Intelligence Centre (GCIC), the Joint Planning Cell (JPC), the Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC) and others, will leverage their combined strengths by creating a 'Network of Networks.' The network will establish new cooperative links and strengthen those already existing between entities, while acting as a force multiplier in countering illicit trafficking.
The meeting will examine the mandates and priorities of the various agencies, explore options for collaboration and seek to identify opportunities for coordinated operational activities. It will invite participation from established international partners including European Union, Egmont Group, Europol, INTERPOL, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, World Customs Organization and others, and seeks to conclude with a joint statement between the parties.
To inform the debate and assist in identifying areas for action, UNODC will also present its latest strategic report on drug trafficking via the Balkan route.
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For journalists seeking to cover the event both inside and outside Turkey, please contact:
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
