Close ties between agencies globally needed to tackle new-age crimes, says official

Last Updated07/09/2024

Speaking at the 10th Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs) conference, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan said there was a need for close and real-time coordination among law enforcement agencies globally

Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan emphasized the importance of international police cooperation in combatting new-age transnational crimes, such as cyber-enabled financial frauds, online radicalization, and organized crime networks at the 10th Interpol Liaison Officers (ILOs) Conference.
The event, organized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 5, 2024, coincides with the upcoming UN International Day of Police Cooperation and brings attention to the need for real-time coordination among global law enforcement agencies to address increasingly interconnected threats.

In his inaugural address, Mohan highlighted that new-age crimes, particularly those facilitated by technology, have transcended geographic borders. The rise of terror financing, cybercrimes, illicit drug trafficking, and human trafficking require countries to go beyond traditional law enforcement practices and embrace global cooperation.
“Crime today is borderless, and if we want to stop these crimes and criminals, we all have to think beyond conventional geographic borders,” he said, quoting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Mohan stressed the growing reliance on digital evidence and the need for international collaboration to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute crimes.
With the increasing global dispersal of criminal networks, law enforcement must leverage real-time coordination to combat threats like terrorism, wildlife and environmental crimes, and money laundering.
This requires cooperation on an unprecedented scale, with agencies worldwide sharing intelligence and operational expertise.

Mohan also elaborated on recent initiatives aimed at fostering international police cooperation. Among these are:
- Working Arrangement with Europol (March 2024): Strengthens cooperation between India and Europe’s law enforcement agencies.
- CBI’s Joining of Interpol Global Academy Network (August 2023): Expands educational and research initiatives in global policing.
- Global Operation Centre (2022): A hub for handling international law enforcement requests.
These initiatives demonstrate India’s commitment to contributing to global efforts in tackling transnational crimes, while also benefiting from shared resources and intelligence.

CBI Director Praveen Sood reinforced India’s proactive approach to international crime prevention, citing the agency’s significant role in global law enforcement.
In 2023, the Global Operation Centre processed 17,368 international assistance requests, while 100 Red Notices were issued by Interpol against criminals wanted by Indian agencies, marking a record high.
In collaboration with global partners, India successfully brought back 29 fugitives in 2023 and 19 so far in 2024.

The conference included a roundtable with experts from law enforcement agencies in countries such as the U.S. (FBI), Germany, Japan, Chile, and Nepal, who discussed the challenges of combatting modern criminal threats.
Topics ranged from enhancing cybersecurity measures to combatting terrorist financing and human trafficking.