INTERPOL’s CyberEX Virtual Plenary Meeting

On June 3, Chief Superintendent of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) Lam Cheuk-ho, in his capacity as the Chairman of INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Expert Group (CyberEX), chaired the second quarterly virtual plenary meeting of this year. The meeting continued with the theme of “Disrupting the Industrialisation of Cybercrime”, focusing on strengthening international intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation. Participants discussed strategies to combat cybercrime syndicates and shared successful operational experiences in tackling transnational cybercrime.

CyberEX brought together over 200 cybercrime experts from more than 90 countries and regions to engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as cybercrime-as-a-service operations, evolving modus operandi, innovative investigation tools and techniques, public-private partnerships, and capacity building. They also shared practical experiences and best practices from around the world.

VAIT Meeting

The second meeting of the Virtual Asset Intelligence Taskforce (VAIT) was held on May 14. Representatives from the Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, licensed virtual asset trading platforms, licensed stablecoin issuers and expert advisers were invited to attend the meeting.

Four new members of VAIT were added in the meeting, further broadening VAIT’s professional perspective. The meeting continued to advance VAIT’s three key work directions, namely intelligence sharing, special alerts and optimisation of the stop-payment mechanism. Representatives from sectors shared their practical experience in the implementation of the Stablecoins Ordinance, AML compliance requirements, and AML risk controls.

Participants discussed emerging virtual asset laundering techniques, including different ways of concealing fund flows. The newly launched STREAMS 2 system was introduced at the meeting. The system assists the collection, analysis and exchange of suspicious transaction-related intelligence, and enables stakeholders to identify suspicious wallet activities and risk indicators in a more systematic manner, thereby enhancing the efficiency of crime detection as well as stop-payment and freezing actions. The meeting also covered the implementation progress and future development of the new virtual asset-related legislations.

Chief Superintendent Lam Cheuk-ho (second left) and CSTCB officers attend the meeting to discuss successful operational experiences in combatting transnational cybercrime.