SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1988
ACTION PLANNED ON 'MONEY LAUNDERING': CP
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING MONEY LAUNDERING, ORGANISED CRIME AND TRAVEL DOCUMENT FRAUD WERE AMONG THOSE PASSED AT THIS YEAR'S INTERPOL GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
"POSSIBLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT, INSOFAR AS WE SHALL HAVE A BILL BEFORE LEGCO WHICH WE HOPE WILL BE ENACTED SOON, WAS THAT RELATING ΤΟ MONEY LAUNDERING," SAID COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR RAYMON ANNING.
MR ANNING SAID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNISED THE NEED TO CREATE MECHANISMS FOR DEALING WITH INTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING AND RELATED CRIMES.
"IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT INTERPOL HAS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF MEMBER COUNTRIES ΤΟ COMBAT NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS IN PARTICULAR, AND ALL WHO LAUNDER ILLEGAL PROFITS INTERNATIONALLY," HE EXPLAINED.
"TO THIS END IT WAS DECIDED THAT A WORLDWIDE WORKING GROUP SHOULD BE SET UP PRINCIPALLY TO STUDY EXISTING METHODS, AND ALSO TO DEVELOP NEW STRATEGIES FOR THE GATHERING OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING FROM, RELATED TO OR RESULTING FROM NARCOTICS TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER CRIMES."
ON THE SUBJECT OF ORGANISED CRIME, MR ANNING SAID THAT AGAIN THE ASSEMBLY NOTED THAT ALL MEMBERS STATES SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES, MOVEMENTS AND OPERATIONS OF ORGANISED CRIME GROUPS.
THE MEETING RECOMMENDED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE FORMATION OF A SPECIALISED GROUP WITHIN THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT TO COUNTER THE ACTIVITIES OF ORGANISED CRIME; THAT ORGANISED CRIME SHOULD BE A PERMANENT AGENDA ITEM AT BOTH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND REGIONAL MEETINGS; AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE HEADS OF SPECIALISED SERVICES CONCERNED WITH COMBATING ORGANISED CRIME WHERE APPROPRIATE.
CONCERN AMONG MEMBER NATIONS OVER THE INCREASING USE OF FRAUDULENT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS LED TO A CALL FOR CONCERTED EFFORT TO BE MADE TO APPREHEND AND PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE, MR ANNING WENT ON.
"NOT ONLY ARE SUCH DOCUMENTS USED TO CROSS BORDERS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE USED IN SUPPORT OF OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENCES SUCH AS THEFT, COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY," HE NOTED.
"THE ASSEMBLY THEREFORE REQUESTED THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT IN PARIS TO PROMOTE AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE ALL MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINIMUM SECURITY MEASURES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE MANUFACTURE AND ISSUE OF GENUINE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.
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