10th INTERPOL Liaison Officers Conference Highlights Global Law Enforcement Cooperation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) hosted the 10th INTERPOL Liaison Officers (ILO's) Conference in Delhi, focusing on 'Strengthening International Law Enforcement Partnerships.' The event emphasized the importance of international cooperation to counter technology-enabled crimes, with key addresses by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and CBI Director Praveen Sood.

The 10th INTERPOL Liaison Officers (ILO's) Conference, organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was inaugurated at the CBI Headquarters in Delhi. The theme of the conference, 'Strengthening International Law Enforcement Partnerships,' underscores the importance of international police cooperation, coinciding with the upcoming UN International Day of Police Cooperation.

Senior officers from Central, State, and Union Territory law enforcement agencies, along with International Police Liaison Officers from various countries, participated in the event. The inaugural session saw virtual participation from law enforcement personnel across India and INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and GloBE network member countries.

In his keynote address, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan highlighted the crucial need for international police cooperation in combating technology-enabled crimes that cross borders. He emphasized that the interconnectedness of crime and criminals necessitates real-time international police coordination for effective prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution. Mohan also called attention to the importance of combating new-age crimes such as cyber-enabled financial crimes, online radicalization, and transnational organized crime networks, stressing that safe havens for crime and proceeds of crime pose a serious threat.

CBI Director Praveen Sood addressed the conference, stating, 'The world today faces numerous serious and globalized poly-crimes and threats including terrorism, online radicalization, cyber-enabled financial crimes, and organized crime.' He detailed that the CBI's Global Operation Centre handled 17,368 international assistance requests in 2023, and INTERPOL issued a record 100 red notices for criminals and fugitives wanted by Indian law enforcement agencies.

Sessions during the conference covered a range of topics including International Mutual Legal Assistance, extradition procedures, and leveraging INTERPOL channels for investigating transnational crimes. The CBI, as the National Central Bureau (NCB New Delhi) for INTERPOL in India, connects all law enforcement agencies in the country to strengthen international police cooperation against crime.

(With inputs from agencies.)