On November 8, 2024 in London, UK, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, represented by Executive Director Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan and Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director for Plans and Programmes, engaged in a high-level meeting with officials from the United Kingdom's Home Office in London. The UK delegation included Ms. Emma Merry (Head of Fraud), Mr. Andrei Skorobogatov (Head of Fraud Strategy & International Policy), Mr. Kien Soloman (International Fraud Team Lead), Ms. Alice Heales (East and Southeast Asia Engagement Lead), and Mr. Jim McDonald (UK NCA).
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between ASEANAPOL and the UK Home Office, building on the established partnership between ASEANAPOL and the UK National Crime Agency (UK NCA), a Dialogue Partner since 2019. Discussions centered on shared priorities in combating transnational crime, including human trafficking, illicit drug trafficking, cybercrime, and terrorism, with a mutual commitment to improving regional and international security.
Emerging trends in cybercrime took center stage, highlighting threats such as ransomware attacks, email and internet fraud, identity theft, and financial information theft. Both parties acknowledged the severe societal and economic implications of these crimes if left unchecked, emphasizing the need for timely and collaborative responses to safeguard communities and promote socio-economic stability.
The ASEANAPOL Secretariat underscored the importance of national Anti-Scam Centers (ASCs) in ASEAN Member Countries (AMCs), an initiative endorsed during the 42nd ASEANAPOL Conference. These centers, inspired by successful models in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, aim to dismantle scam operations tied to human trafficking and forced criminality through enhanced information sharing, a shared database, public-private partnerships, and capacity building for law enforcement.
The UK Home Office commended ASEANAPOL for its pivotal role in fostering collaboration among AMCs and its efforts to bridge regional and international law enforcement networks. The Secretariat presented updates on its key initiatives, including the electronic ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS), capacity-building programs, and measures to enhance intelligence sharing and operational coordination within the region.
Both parties explored opportunities for the UK Home Office to support ASEANAPOL and its member countries through expertise, advanced technologies, and training programs. They also discussed establishing formal mechanisms for collaboration in addressing financial crime and online exploitation. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening the partnership through regular consultations, capacity-building initiatives, and joint activities, reinforcing their mutual goal of creating safer and more secure communities globally.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"