Senior law enforcement officials and ministers from around the world have come together at INTERPOL’s General Assembly which opened this Monday in Marrakesh to address current and future organized crime threats.
The four-day conference, attended by more than 800 delegates from 179 countries, including 82 police chiefs, is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and sets the global agenda for law enforcement.
In his opening address, Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance Abdellatif Hammouchi said: “our willingness to host the General Assembly stems from our firm commitment to strengthening multi-lateral security cooperation, and its importance in combating transnational organized crime.”
This constant commitment is spearheaded by King Mohammed VI convinced that security is a shared responsibility whose preservation depends on solid institutional cooperation, societal partnerships and consolidated international joint action, Hammouchi said.
“Because security challenges transcend national borders, it has become a must for us to create joint security structures, in which national partners cooperate with INTERPOL and international stakeholders”, he added.
Morocco’s National Security services have put in place an integrated security strategy, combining the preservation of security and the respect for human rights, where police action goes hand-in-hand with security communication to serve citizens, said Head of the Moroccan National police.
To address cross-border threats due to the ramifications of virtual criminal structures, the interconnection of criminal networks and entities as well as proliferation of regional terrorist hubs, it is necessary to create common and indivisible security structures, based on close coordination between national police forces, INTERPOL and related regional organizations, said Hammouchi.
To ensure collective security, it is important not only to develop national security institutions but also to modernize their operating mechanisms to meet the growing expectations of citizens, he said, calling for the consolidation of international cooperation and mutual assistance between states.
The Marrakesh General Assembly of Interpol will focus on a broad range of global security challenges, including efforts to identify and disrupt transnational organized crime networks, and dismantle transnational scam centers.
INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said: “In Marrakech this week, we celebrate what we have built together, the beginning of the future we are building together. The next phase of our journey starts here, guided by the roadmap we have crafted collectively, a framework that will steer our efforts over the next five years”.
“I have worked closely with the Executive Committee and both Secretaries General, to drive this transformation, and I trust they will continue to advance this path.
“Let this General Assembly remind us that service never ends, and that in every border crossed, every life protected, and every act of courage, INTERPOL thrives in all of us”, he added.
For his part, INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said the General Assembly is the only event in the world that can bring together this level of police leadership.
“These four days are a chance for us to assess the evolving threats of organized crime together, and chart a united path forward – so that police worldwide are stronger, and INTERPOL can stand even more firmly behind every frontline officer”, he said, noting that cooperation is no longer an option but the only way forward.
As part of INTERPOL’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational support to member countries, two new capabilities – Nexus and AVA – will be launched to support more efficient information-sharing and analysis across borders.
Nexus is a web-based messaging platform that uses artificial intelligence to help structure and deliver police information in a clearer, more accessible format, designed to help frontline officers receive critical intelligence faster.
AVA is the first AI virtual assistant for law enforcement that operates entirely within INTERPOL’s protected cloud environment. It can rapidly process lengthy or complex material, translate instantly and summarize information to provide officers with actionable insights.
During the Marrakesh meeting, INTERPOL’s program of activities and new strategic framework will be presented to delegates, who will also be updated on the Silver Notice pilot project.
The General Assembly will also vote for new members of the Executive Committee, including the President, as their respective mandates come to an end.
The General Assembly is made up of representatives from its 196 member countries.
