Meeting of INTERPOL Asia-Pacific Expert Group On Asian Organized Crime concluded
**************************************************************

The 6th Meeting of INTERPOL Asia-Pacific Expert Group on Asian Organized Crime, co-hosted by INTERPOL and the Hong Kong Police Force between June 23 and 24, was successfully concluded today (June 24).

Held in Hong Kong for the first time, the meeting brought together some 40 senior criminal investigators from 14 member jurisdictions in the Asia-Pacific Region, including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao SAR, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Korea and Thailand, to discuss current and future threats and challenges associated with Asian Organized Crime (AOC) in this international forum.

Chairperson of the European Working Group on AOC, Mr Frank Francis, and representatives from Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands also attended as observers.

Chief Superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, Mr Yu Mun-sang, who is also the current chairperson of the Expert Group said: "During the two-day meeting, participants have useful and fruitful discussions about a wide range of prevailing transnational crimes including triad activities, cross-border smuggling, money laundering, online casino gambling and bookmaking.

"While exchanging their experiences and strategies in tackling these organised crimes, members have also agreed at the meeting to participate in specific joint operations under the coordination of INTERPOL in order to combat AOC more effectively."

In addition, Mr Yu and Mr Francis, representing the Asia-Pacific Expert Group and European Working Group, signed an agreement to foster stronger co-operation and intelligence sharing, and to strive for more opportunities in mounting joint operations.

"Multilateral collaboration and partnership is vital in addressing transnational criminal activities. The meeting of the Expert Group will continue to provide an excellent opportunity for member jurisdictions to strengthen international co-operation in the fight against organised crimes on a regional and global basis," Mr Yu added.

INTERPOL initiated the Project AOC in 2006, which has established the Expert Group and provided an international working platform for law enforcement agencies to fight against AOC worldwide by boosting co-operation among member jurisdictions, providing operational support and enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement officers in investigating cross-border organised crime.

Having its meeting on a bi-annual basis, the Expert Group will hold the next meeting at the end of 2009 in China. Previous meetings were held in Thailand, Singapore, Macao SAR and Malaysia.

Police Report No. 10

June 24, 2009