INTERPOL SEEKS EFCC’S COLLABORATION IN TACKLING ORGANISED CRIME GROUPS
Read Time:1 Minute, 47 Second
Olusayo Elutinju
The International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, has solicited the participation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to tackle organized criminal groups, across the West-African sub-region.
This request was made on Thursday, September 21, 2023, when an INTERPOL led by Pascal Progin, coordinator of the criminal networks sub-directorate of its organized crime unit, visited the EFCC Corporate Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.
Progin specifically solicit EFCC help in tackling what he called “Nigerian organized crime groups,” emphasizing that INTERPOL needed the Commission’s skills, experience, and network to make substantial progress in dissolving the stronghold of the groups.
“Organized crime refers to criminal activities that are carried out by criminal organizations or syndicates based in Nigeria or by Nigerian criminal networks operating both within Nigeria or and internationally. This include activities such as cybercrime, human trafficking, extortion and kidnapping, oil theft, and illegal arms trading”
He further said these criminal activities often involve the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and can cause significant harm to both victims and society as a whole, “hence the need to collaborate with various law enforcement agencies across the globe, especially the EFCC to eradicate the menace”.
Responding, Abdulkarim Chukkol, Acting Chairman of the EFCC, who addressed through Head of Operations Ibrahim Liman, said the EFCC was always ready to help in whatever capacity to tackle crime and criminality. “I have listened to you, you are right. As a law enforcement organization, we have to collaborate. Crimes, these days, cut cross borders. You may have a criminal here, but it is possible he is committing the crime in France, America, or anywhere else. So, the need for collaboration cannot be overemphasized. Collaboration is also very important among law enforcement agencies to tackle every form of criminality,” he said.
Officers from the EFCC and Progin’s delegation met to discuss some technical concerns. The INTERPOL’s coordinator finally stressed that, “the aim of the initiative is to support the identification of members of African organized crime groups, in Africa and abroad, connecting them to their respective criminal group, through an enhanced exchange of information and the development of tailored operational activities”.
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