NEW DELHI – The Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale together with the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola are leading a delegation of senior police officers at the 90th Session of Interpol’s General Assembly in New Delhi, India.

Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization, with 195 member countries, including South Africa. The organization enables cross-border police cooperation, supports and assists law enforcement authorities whose mission is to prevent or combat trans-national organized crime.

The Annual General Assembly (AGM) meets once a year and takes major decisions concerning policy, resources needed for international cooperation, activities and programmes to be undertaken to prevent and combat international crime.

The delegation consisting of senior officers within the operational environments in the SAPS and the Directorate for Crime Priority Investigations (DPCI) will form part of various discussions in Financial crime; Cybercrime; Crimes against children; and a host of other trans-national organized crime related matters.

The Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale says South Africa will utilise the opportunity to hold a series of  bilateral discussions on mutual assistance with various countries in a bid to strengthen and promote cooperation in fighting trans-national organized crimes such as kidnappings, drug trafficking and financial crimes. Capacity building in the form of skills transfer to enhance police capabilities will also form part of discussions.

“We are representing the country’s interest. Let’s do what we can for the benefit of our citizens. We look forward to robust discussions and may we depart having gained improved cooperation and mutual understanding with the various countries “, said Deputy Minister Mathale.

Other key role players attending this meeting includes ministers, police chiefs of different countries, heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and senior police officers. The AGM session will culminate in key decisions being adopted in the form of resolutions to bolster trans-national organized crime fighting initiatives.

Source: South African Police Service