From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The INTERPOL President, Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi has disclosed that its joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL named “Flash-Weka” arrested over 1,000 human traffickers and migrant smugglers with the support of Nigeria police and others.
He equally revealed that the “Operation Jackal”, which took place in May, tackled West Africa-based organised crime groups like Black Axe. He added that its operation recovered over €2 million and identified more than 200 bank accounts linked to the illicit activities of online financial crime. The INTERPOL president also noted that the Nigeria police has also supported the fight against cybercrime.
He said: “In another joint INTERPL-AFRIPOL initiative, Nigeria worked alongside 24 other countries across Africa to identify criminal networks linked to large financial losses. As a result of Operation Africa Cyber Surge lI, 14 suspected cyber criminals were arrested. Over 20,000 suspicious cyber networks were identified and over $40 million were recovered”.
He continued: “INTERPOL’s role would not be possible without the support of its member countries, including its 54 member countries across Africa. Your continued assistance will ensure that innocent victims are protected from some of the most common crime trends facing Africa, which he listed as including human trafficking and migrant smuggling, financial crime and fraud, and cybercrime.”
He, however, called for more synergy to tackle crime as security challenges take new dimensions.
“As economic, political, and technological landscapes continue to evolve rapidly, and as we navigate a period of uncertainty, it is more important than ever before to join forces to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. As technology advances, we will experience more complex challenges, with criminals taking advantage of the boundaries between the physical and digital.
“To create a more sophisticated, borderless criminal landscape. INTERPOL’s member countries are stronger together. By staying ahead of the curve and anticipating policing challenges of the future. We can target organised criminal groups conducting financial crimes, which undermine global financial systems, slow down economic growth, and cause losses to businesses and individuals globally.
“INTERPOL is working to safeguard economic prosperity through our Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. The growth of illicit transnational financial crime has grown rapidly in recent years, causing massive losses to businesses and individuals worldwide, while threatening governing bodies.
“However, our work is not possible without the support of our 195 member countries. Our Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre supports member countries with transnational investigations and shares crucial information with stakeholders to hold criminals accountable”.