Namibia commended for fighting cross-border crime
Cybercrime another headache
Cross-border crime is best tackled jointly, chairperson of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, said.
Namibia has been instrumental in fighting cross-border crime and has been commended for its active role in regional and inter-regional Interpol-organised operations.
This is according to the chairperson of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola.
He was speaking at a press briefing this week during a visit to Namibia to discuss SARPCCO-related matters.
The core functions of the organisation are to promote training and cooperation through cross-border operations on identified criminal threats in the SADC region.
“Cross-border crime can be best tackled jointly, as shown by past operations which have yielded commendable results,” he said.
Masemola added that they have monitored and evaluated the progress Namibia has made with a focus on the implementation of Interpol resolutions and SARPCCO decisions, and also ironed out impediments to international and regional police cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime.
The successful implementation of these resolutions not only looks good on paper, he said, but the results bear evidence to hard work aimed at overcoming the common challenge of fighting transnational crime in the region.
“It is pleasing to note that Namibia has been present at all meetings held at regional level and has contributed in the formulation of regional strategies in fighting cross-border crimes.”
Cybercrime
Meanwhile, Masemola said cybercrimes affect all countries, adding that in Africa, weak networks and security make countries vulnerable, resulting in a high number of malicious domains.
According to him, studies by Interpol, partners and member countries in West Africa between 2015 and 2017 showed the region had a growing underground market and high levels of social engineering/financially motivated threats against vulnerable people.
“A high level of internet fraud targeting businesses [was reported], while only one-third of cybercrimes reported to law enforcement agencies each year resulted in arrests,” he said.
He added that it is against this background that Interpol has a project titled ‘African Joint Operation Against Cybercrime’.
“Key impediments to conducting cross-jurisdictional cybercrime investigations across Africa include inconsistency in how different countries manage and prioritise cybercrime investigations and/or a lack of capacity among law enforcement agencies to deal with these types of crimes.”
The project, he said, aims to drive intelligence-led coordination actions against cybercrime and their perpetrators in Africa. This will create a harmonised regional coordinated framework that will produce joint action plans and conduct law enforcement activities.
Activities will focus on prevention as well as pursuing the perpetrators of cybercrime in Africa.
This is according to the chairperson of the Southern Africa Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola.
He was speaking at a press briefing this week during a visit to Namibia to discuss SARPCCO-related matters.
The core functions of the organisation are to promote training and cooperation through cross-border operations on identified criminal threats in the SADC region.
“Cross-border crime can be best tackled jointly, as shown by past operations which have yielded commendable results,” he said.
Masemola added that they have monitored and evaluated the progress Namibia has made with a focus on the implementation of Interpol resolutions and SARPCCO decisions, and also ironed out impediments to international and regional police cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime.
The successful implementation of these resolutions not only looks good on paper, he said, but the results bear evidence to hard work aimed at overcoming the common challenge of fighting transnational crime in the region.
“It is pleasing to note that Namibia has been present at all meetings held at regional level and has contributed in the formulation of regional strategies in fighting cross-border crimes.”
Cybercrime
Meanwhile, Masemola said cybercrimes affect all countries, adding that in Africa, weak networks and security make countries vulnerable, resulting in a high number of malicious domains.
According to him, studies by Interpol, partners and member countries in West Africa between 2015 and 2017 showed the region had a growing underground market and high levels of social engineering/financially motivated threats against vulnerable people.
“A high level of internet fraud targeting businesses [was reported], while only one-third of cybercrimes reported to law enforcement agencies each year resulted in arrests,” he said.
He added that it is against this background that Interpol has a project titled ‘African Joint Operation Against Cybercrime’.
“Key impediments to conducting cross-jurisdictional cybercrime investigations across Africa include inconsistency in how different countries manage and prioritise cybercrime investigations and/or a lack of capacity among law enforcement agencies to deal with these types of crimes.”
The project, he said, aims to drive intelligence-led coordination actions against cybercrime and their perpetrators in Africa. This will create a harmonised regional coordinated framework that will produce joint action plans and conduct law enforcement activities.
Activities will focus on prevention as well as pursuing the perpetrators of cybercrime in Africa.
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