Jose Manuel Fernandez Del Canto's Speech
INTERPOL is the world’s largest police organization. Its job is to provide innovative police tools to police forces in each of its 190 member countries. We make sure police officers in the field have the best tools possible to investigate crime and arrest criminals. One of the crime areas where we do this is trafficking in illicit goods and counterfeiting.
A dedicated unit at the INTERPOL headquarters provides training and operational support to police forces around the world. I work in this unit where my job is to help all countries, particularly in South America, fight this increasingly serious form of crime.
Trafficking in illicit goods and counterfeiting is not a crime committed in isolation. There is clear evidence of the involvement of organized crime networks. Yet TIGC is given low visibility in many countries because of the fact that too many people presume that it is not linked to organized crime, and that its consequences are not serious. But this is a very wrong assumption.
Buying counterfeit goods is not a harmless crime without consequence. TIGC affects our health, our economies, creates tax evasion and is used by transnational criminal organizations to fund other criminal activities such as violent crime, drugs, trafficking in human beings and many more.
Training is absolutely essential to making law enforcement better equipped to combat illicit goods trafficking and make meaningful interventions. Training is delivered in every continent and tailored to the specific needs of each member country to enable them subsequently to carry out sophisticated police operations worldwide. INTERPOL has been developing activities in all regions over the past ten years.
The training we deliver enables our member countries to conduct effective and targeted police operations in the field. Partnership is important, particularly between police and customs. TIGC can only be tackled effectively through international cooperation and multiagency partnership. We work increasingly more with private sector partners as their input is of high value in improving investigative skills, boosting intelligence gathering and strengthening the worldwide fight against TIGC.
The INTERPOL headquarters has facilitated and coordinated operations that have led to identify, disrupt and dismantle the transnational organized networks behind this crime and to the seizure of fake, illicit and dangerous items, ranging from luxurious items, mobile telephones, toys, electronics, beverages, food, toiletry such as soap, toothpaste, shampoos, make up to more complex and critical items such as agricultural tools or car parts. All products are in high demand but extremely dangerous for consumers worth millions of euros and resulting in hundreds of arrests worldwide.
We help countries conduct operations in every continent. Fake goods worth nearly 1 million USD were seized in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation late last year. Codenamed ‘White Mercury’ the operation was carried out by law enforcement agencies in seven Balkan countries with INTERPOL support. The results were spectacular, with the identification of a network spanning three countries involved in the production of fake everyday consumer goods. 150 interventions and raids were carried out by police and customs officials at border control points, airports, roadside checks, shopping centres and warehouses, with the investigation, arrest or reporting to judicial authorities of some 330 people.
Operation White Mercury clearly illustrated that international police cooperation is essential to effectively tackle transnational organized crime networks involved in illicit trade. The hosting of this prestigious press conference today by the Customs and police authorities of Slovenia is a clear indication of their determination to strengthen their fight against this dangerous form of crime, and we look forward to working with them regularly in the future.
One of the things INTERPOLs Turn Back Crime campaign does is raise awareness in all levels of society and business about the realities of organized crime and how people can change their consumer behaviour to help the police fight it. INTERPOL is launching the campaign here in the Port of Koper today because today is international day for fighting trafficking in counterfeit goods, and because we want you, the Slovenian media, to become Turn Back Crime Ambassadors and help us raise awareness in your country.
INTERPOL would like the public to start asking the right questions and to understand the consequences of their consumer choices. We would like to explain to everyone that if you buy a fake mobile phone or a fake bag, you might be getting a cheap deal, but you are financing organized crime or terrorism, if not damaging your health. We would like private sector sponsors to support crime prevention and awareness initiatives on the major threats facing the world today. Citizens around the world need to understand that the police are working together with them to turn back crime, and that they can contribute to a joint action.
Simultaneous Turn Back Crime launch events are also taking place right now in Jakarta (Indonesia), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Bogota (Colombia) and Paris. We look forward to seeing you visit us on Turnbackcrime.com website, on the Turn Back Crime social media (twitter, facebook, youtube, instagram) where you will find much more information about this innovative worldwide awareness campaign, and some video and photographs of today’s press conference.
We hope you will share the Turn Back Crime message through your own communication channels and social networks. My colleague Alison BERNARD from the headquarters Communications Office is here today to answer any questions you may have about the campaign. If you have any further questions about how INTERPOL helps its 190 member countries fight trafficking in illicit goods and counterfeits, I am at your disposal for questions too.