Interpol urged to maintain cooperation to tackle crimes

A four-day 84th Interpol General Assembly opened in Kigali on Monday with a call on international police to sustain collective effort to crack down on criminals.

It is held under the theme Interpol 2020: Policing Global Threats in a Dynamic Environment.

Opening the meeting, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame noted that security is the foundation of everything.

When security breaks down, he said, it leaves huge costs, loss of life, destruction of trust with-in society and public institutions and economic stagnation.

He expressed Rwanda's appreciation for the solid cooperation with the international police over the years.

He commended Interpol's efforts in tracking down fugitives wanted for genocide in Rwanda which he said helped to deliver justice for the victims and survivors, "even though there remains much work to be done."

He observed that Interpol's information sharing and concerted action compliments bilateral and regional efforts, and helps eliminate the gaps that might aid international crimes to flourish.

Mireille Ballestrazzi, the president of Interpol, said the international police body must introduce measures to maintain police cooperation.

The Inspector General of Rwanda National Police, Emmanuel K. Gasana cited capacity building, and joint operations as key areas where cooperation between Rwanda Police and Interpol has flourished in the past years.

Interpol supported Rwanda National Police to equip Rwanda's borders with the I-24/7 communication tool, which connects all the 190 member countries to access timely vital information on wanted criminals, stolen items, lost, forged and stolen documents, according to Police.

Gasana said the cooperation has seen over 36 cases of human trafficking involving 153 victims handled since 2009, 10 drug traffickers arrested, 20 vehicles stolen from neighboring countries intercepted and dozens of fugitives wanted for their roles in the genocide in Rwanda apprehended. Endit