More than 1,000 delegates are expected to convene in Kigali today for the 84th General Assembly of Interpol, the world’s largest international police organisation.

Running under the theme, "Interpol 2020: Policing Global Threats in a Dynamic Environment,” the four-day meeting will be attended by heads and representatives of law enforcement institutions and agencies from 190 member countries of Interpol, including chiefs of police, prosecutors, heads of regional and international police organisations, partners in policing and government officials, among others.

According to Rwanda National Police (RNP) officers who are facilitating the event, participants at the meeting will discuss a range of current policing and security issues, including cross-border challenges faced by police today such as terrorism, the organised criminal groups behind drug and human trafficking, and the different facets of cyber crime.

The RNP said in a statement that "given the sophisticated nature of crime in the 21st century, it’s imperative that the security and law enforcement institutions cooperate globally.”

"Rwanda’s hosting of the 84th Interpol AGM (Annual General Meeting) is another milestone achievement for RNP and Rwanda in general in its greater vision of cooperation to make the world a safer place,” said RNP officials in a concept note for the meeting.

Rwandan officers to present

Police Spokesperson Celestin Twahirwa told The New Times last week that Rwandan police officers are among experts who will give presentations that will inform some of the meeting’s resolutions about a better preservation of global security.

"We are happy to host such an international meeting and we hope its resolutions will help to make the world a safer place,” Twahirwa said.

Interpol’s role is to enable police around the world to work together to make the world a safer place.

Cooperation of the RNP with Interpol has led to many successful results, including the arrest of a number of fugitives of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the handling of over 36 cases of human trafficking since 2009 involving 153 victims, and the interception of several stolen vehicles.

Rwanda National Police have also been working with Interpol to detect and intercept drug traffickers, forged documents and counterfeit money, illicit goods, and fake pharmaceuticals among other things.

Rwanda became a member of Interpol in 1974 and the Rwanda National Police has been active in international police since it was created in 2000.

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