afrol News, 27 June - The African members of Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organisation, are to meet in Tanzania in July to enhance police cooperation on the continent. Especially trafficking and counterfeiting are high on the agenda.

"Senior law enforcement officials from throughout the African region will meet in Arusha, Tanzania from 11-13 July for the 19th Interpol African Conference," Interpol announced in a press release today.

The upcoming conference was said to be focusing on a range of issues including "expansion of access to Interpol's services beyond National Central Bureaus, trafficking in human beings, counterfeiting and operational support provided by Interpol's Sub-Regional Bureaus in Africa."

The opening ceremony will include speeches by Interpol President Jackie Selebi and the Minister of Public Safety and Security of Tanzania, Harith Bakari Mwapachu. It was also expected that the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, was to deliver the opening address.

Interpol is the world's largest international police organisation. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police cooperation, and supports and assists organisations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime.

Among its latest successful African operations is the capture of the Rwandan genocide fugitive Isaac Kamali. Mr Kamali last week was arrested by French police at Charles de Gaulle airport after intense international coordination between law enforcement officials from Rwanda, France, the US and Interpol. Rwandan authorities had issued a warrant for his arrest.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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