Baki:Crime in region up

CRIMINALS in the Asia-Pacific Region has intensified and as such, there is a greater need for robust international cooperation between all law enforcement agencies to help combat transnational crimes in the region, Police Commissioner Gari Baki said.
He told the opening of the 16th transnational crime conference in Kokopo, East New Britain, yesterday that Papua New Guinea’s massive land boundary and vast open sea borders made us prone and vulnerable to transnational crime operatives who had and would continue to infiltrate our borders.
Baki said law enforcing agencies should continue to heighten security to clamp down on transnational crimes.
Some issues of concern that would be discussed during the conference were criminal deportations, narcotics and firearms trafficking, illegal immigrants, transnational sex offences, transnational fraud and money laundering, revenue fraud, counterfeit goods and environmental crimes such as illegal fishing and logging and wildlife trafficking.
Baki said that with the emergence and sophistication of modern technology, criminal activities had become more and more daring and complex.
Those involved in such activities would continue to use advance technology to conceal their activities, he added.
Baki reiterated that international criminals would continue to exploit and weaken PNG’s legitimate systems.
Such people and their activities should be exposed and eliminated from both the private and public sector, he said, adding that PNG’s ability to combat transnational crimes had been limited “because we can only do so much”.
Baki said PNG law enforcers had been crippled with inadequate funding and surveillance capabilities in effectively monitoring the movement of foreign vessels and other illegal activities that had been happening across the national borders.
PNG needed external funding and expertise to toughen up in the resolve to combat transnational crimes, he added.
“The national government however, is aware of that concern and has been doing everything within its means to assist law enforcing agencies achieve their desired outcomes.
“The police and other law enforcing agencies need to understand the modes of operation of different criminal syndicates operating in the country and the region.
“This would help to develop and devise counter effective strategies aimed at tackling transnational crimes.”
Baki said transnational crimes in the society and across the borders could be minimised through team effort by all stakeholders.
The conference, held at the Gazelle International Hotel, is being attended by officers from the Australian federal police, Queensland state police, Australian Customs Service, PNG Customs, immigration and the Royal PNG Constabulary.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Policing the borders in partnership in 2010 and beyond”.