On November 5th, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole addressed the 81^st INTERPOL Ministerial and General Assembly meeting in Rome, Italy. This gathering of INTERPOL member countries marked an important opportunity to recognize joint achievements, build relationships, discuss issues critical to our domestic and global security, and develop a path forward on international law enforcement.

Deputy Attorney General Cole noted the unprecedented level of cooperation between INTERPOL member countries which has led to the development of critical law enforcement tools of 24/7 communication, information sharing and coordinated responses.  He also emphasized two important areas that would benefit greatly from INTERPOL’s continued leadership and support and member countries’ investment, vigilance and cooperation: Transnational Organized Crime and Human Trafficking.

 “Transnational organized crime poses a significant and growing threat to the security of each of our nations (and citizens) and the international community as a whole.  Not only are criminal networks expanding, but they are also diversifying their activities – with dire implications for public safety, public health, democratic institutions and, in this already tough economic climate, the financial stability of nations across the globe.  The United Nations estimates that, in 2009, transnational organized criminal activities generated $870 billion in illegal proceeds – equivalent to almost 7 percent of world exports.” 

To respond to the threat of transnational organized crime, Deputy Attorney General Cole called for a “whole-of-government approach” focused on coordinating resources and expertise: 

“We realized that law enforcement measures alone would not fully counter the threat of transnational organized crime.  Included in this approach was: the work of our Department of the Treasury to impose financial sanctions on major transnational organized crime groups and individuals; and the work of our Department of State to deny entry to the United States to transnational criminal aliens and others who have been targeted for financial sanctions.  As a direct result of these actions, five transnational organized crime groups that span the globe already have been subjected to these crippling financial sanctions.”

Deputy Attorney General Cole also stressed the need for “enhanced global attention and a unified law enforcement response” to fight against human trafficking:

“One of the greatest horrors of this crime is that traffickers view their victims as nothing more than a commodity, something that can be bought and sold, or simply taken, and eventually discarded… This crime can take many forms. It is the young woman who moves to another country for the promise of a new life – but instead finds herself enslaved and repeatedly sold for sex. Or the child who ran away from home and finds herself in the same situation because, in desperate need, she accepted help from the wrong person.” 

Although the specific details may differ, these heinous crimes often have two common elements.  First, human trafficking  is hidden in plain sight – behind the veil of a prostitution offense, a domestic abuse incident, a physical or sexual assault, a labor dispute, or an immigration crime.  Second, victims are often traumatized, and can be weary of – and reluctant to corporate with – law enforcement officials for fear of repercussions from their captors. This is why educating first responders about the factors that may indicate a potential human trafficking offense is a critical step in improving our ability to identify and help trafficking victims. 

In front of an international audience, Deputy Attorney General Cole reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to preventing and fighting human trafficking in all of its forms. Last year, the department set a new record in the number of defendants charged in human trafficking cases. Additionally, over the last three years, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of forced labor and human trafficking cases charged. 

The United States has also partnered with law enforcement officials from Mexico and Ukraine, to Germany and Canada to dismantle sex traffic networks and successfully bring perpetrators behinds these crimes to justice. This work – which showcases the value of engaging in global partnerships to combat human trafficking –sends an unmistakable message: we will relentlessly pursue those who trade in the misery of other human beings and we will rescue their victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.

However, these efforts are only the beginning. To successfully combat human trafficking, as Deputy Attorney General said, “prosecution alone is not the answer,” which is why we are bringing a renewed focus to preventative measures like:

• Prevention through prosecution of trafficking rings before they can ensnare other victims;
• prevention through deterrence so that our prosecutions dissuade others who may consider engaging in this crime;
• prevention through public awareness; and, lastly,
• prevention through the education of potential victims who, driven by fear, poverty, or lack of education, often unwittingly place their lives in the hands of exploitative traffickers.

No single country or law enforcement agency has the power, or the means, to tackle the global criminal enterprises we face.  Only by communicating effectively, sharing intelligence and combining resources – within our own governments and with our law enforcement partners around the globe – can we truly understand current and emerging trends and build effective strategies to anticipate, combat and put an end to these crimes. 

The following post appears courtesy of INTERPOL Washington Director, Timothy A. Williams.

I am pleased to announce that the Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler, U.S. Department of Justice, and Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the revised roles and responsibilities for the management of INTERPOL Washington.

The new MOU will ensure continued guidance and oversight of INTERPOL Washington, and affirms its commitment to the effective sharing and exchange of international investigative information in cooperation with INTERPOL’s other 187-member countries and the more than 18,000 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States.

This groundbreaking collaborative partnership, cemented by the MOU, will combine the strengths and expertise of DOJ, DHS, and the USNCB.  The MOU also provides a framework for the Deputy Attorney General, the Deputy Secretary, and the USNCB Director to determine all policy and personnel decisions for the USNCB, and establishes senior management positions, which rotate between the two departments every three years.

Most importantly, the signing of this MOU will significantly benefit law enforcement agencies across the country by increasing INTERPOL Washington’s support to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies.  It will continue to improve and nurture national and international law enforcement co-operation and information sharing in order to meet the demands of policing in the 21st century, and will pave the way for INTERPOL Washington to provide the right resources and tools for agents and officers in the field to help them identify criminals and prevent crime. 

For example, one of the tools that I plan to provide is the deployment of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 network across the United States, thus enabling thousands of investigators to access INTERPOL’s databases and police services containing information on wanted persons, terrorists, missing persons, stolen and lost travel documents and stolen vehicles.

The MOU will enable INTERPOL Washington to increase focus on the reduction of transnational organized crime by strengthening global partnerships; leveraging existing technology and pursuing new enterprise solutions; and boosting the international exchange of information in order to bolster efforts aimed at preventing global terrorism.

For more information about The U.S. National Central Bureau of INTERPOL, visit: http://www.justice.gov/usncb/

Today, the U.S. National Central Bureau (INTERPOL Washington) is hosting its first U.S. Interagency Environmental Crime Meeting. INTERPOL’s General Secretariat and INTERPOL Washington partnered in this effort to bring together approximately 35 representatives from federal agencies to discuss ways to foster communication and identify opportunities to enhance international cooperation and participation in combating environmental crime.

“I am quite pleased that INTERPOL Washington and INTERPOL’s General Secretariat have partnered in this great effort to build partnerships with federal agencies that have a strong focus in protecting our environment. I hope this meeting today will be the first of many as we all work collaboratively to prevent crimes that can have a detrimental effect on our environment both nationally and internationally,” stated INTERPOL Washington Director Timothy Williams.

Environmental crime is any breach of a national or international environmental law or treaty that exists to ensure the conservation and sustainability of the world’s environment, biodiversity, or natural resources. Examples of this type of crime include poaching and trafficking of wildlife and the illegal emission of pollutants into waterways or the air.

INTERPOL’s Environmental Crime Program assists its 188 member countries in the effective enforcement of national and international environmental laws and treaties in order to contribute to the ongoing conservation of the world’s environment, biodiversity and natural resources. Crimes against the environment are a serious international problem that can both directly or indirectly affect a nation’s economy, security, or very survival. The impact can be felt in many ways, ranging from the depletion of natural resources to the destruction of habitat, and from the extinction of species to human fatalities.

Environmental criminals often stand to gain high profits at a low risk from their activities. Increased coordination in investigation, additional resources, and effective deterrents are essential in order to combat the problem.

Topics of discussion at today’s event will focus on INTERPOL’s activity in the support of laws associated with wildlife, pollution, forestry, fisheries, natural resources, water, protected areas, bio-security, and climate change and ways INTERPOL’s Environmental Crime Program assists its member countries in the effective enforcement of environmental laws.

For more information on INTERPOL’s effort to combat environmental crime, visit the INTERPOL Web site: http://www.interpol.int/Public/EnvironmentalCrime/Default.asp

On November 13th, Timothy Williams of the U.S. Marshals Service became Head of INTERPOL Washington in a formal installation ceremony presided by Attorney General Eric Holder. This event was attended by Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden, INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble, heads of U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies, police executives, foreign police attachés, and friends and family, among others.

The new Head of INTERPOL Washington pledged to continue to nurture police cooperation both at the national and international level and to continue to meet the demands of international policing in the 21st Century by increasing INTERPOL Washington’s support to law enforcement agents and officers in the field. Moreover, Director Williams pledged to provide the right resources and tools for agents and officers in the field to help them identify potential criminals and prevent them from perpetrating their crimes.

One of the tools that Director Williams plans to provide is the deployment of INTERPOL’s I-24/7 network across the United States, enabling thousands of investigators to access INTERPOL’s databases and police services containing information on wanted persons, terrorists, missing persons, stolen and lost travel documents, and stolen vehicles.

He will also focus on reducing transnational organized crime by strengthening global partnerships; leveraging existing technology and pursuing new enterprise solutions to enable INTERPOL Washington to fulfill its mission at national and international levels; and boosting information exchange to bolster national and international efforts at preventing global terrorism.

Director Williams began his career with the U.S. Marshals Service in 1986 and has served in a series of significant law enforcement positions, including Chief of the Technical Operations Group, Commander of the New York / New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.