KUALA LUMPUR: Regional police forces have pledged stronger collaboration against cyber scams, financial fraud and other transnational crimes.
Their pledges were made during the 43rd Asean National Police (Aseanapol) Conference, held in Bangkok from Nov 3 to 7.
Hosted by the Royal Thai Police under the theme "Collaboration in Action: Crushing Scam, Disrupting Fraud, and Protecting People," the five-day conference gathered police chiefs and senior law enforcement officials from Asean member countries, alongside dialogue partners and observers from around the world.
"The event focused on fortifying operational cooperation and forging unified strategies to address cross-border crimes, particularly those in the digital sphere," the Aseanapol secretariat said in a statement on Monday (Nov 10).
Delivering the keynote address, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul underscored the severity of online scams and financial fraud, describing them as among the gravest threats to both national and regional security.
He called for a unified Asean response to cybercrime, asserting Thailand’s firm stance that no one is above the law.
"It is also vital to enhance intelligence sharing, joint enforcement and preventive measures to tackle transnational criminal activities, including human trafficking and border-related offences," he said.
He also highlighted Thailand’s ongoing border security initiatives, especially along the Thai-Myanmar frontier.
"We are committed to dismantling criminal networks that operate across jurisdictions.
"The protection of our people from cyber threats is not the responsibility of one nation alone, but a shared mission for all of Asean," he said, aligning his remarks with the conference’s central theme.
In his welcoming address, Police General Kittharath Punpetch, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and chairperson of the executive committee, reaffirmed Thailand’s dedication to Aseanapol's vision of a safer and more resilient region.
Among the top committee members present were Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., Chief of the Philippine National Police, as Vice-Chairperson, and Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, Executive Director of the Aseanapol Secretariat, as Executive Committee Secretary.
The Aseanapol member countries were represented by their respective police chiefs and senior officials, including Malaysia's Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
"Discussions centred on enhancing cybercrime response, improving financial intelligence and advancing digital forensics capabilities," Aseanapol said.
Nine of Aseanapol's twelve dialogue partners, including representatives from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Asean Secretariat, attended the conference.
Their participation reflected continued international support for Aseanapol’s mission to build global partnerships against transnational crime.
A key ceremonial moment of the conference was the delegation’s collective tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother at the Sahathai Samakhom Pavilion.
The gesture, filled with reverence and unity, symbolised Aseanapol’s respect for Thailand’s royal heritage and its continued patronage of peace and cooperation within the region.
"The conference concluded with the signing of the 43rd Aseanapol Joint Communiqué, a strategic roadmap outlining future initiatives aimed at creating a safer, smarter and more resilient Asean community.
"The communiqué reaffirmed the member nations’ collective determination to strengthen regional law enforcement cooperation in the face of evolving security challenges, particularly those emerging from the digital realm," Aseanapol said.
