Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO) has made resolution to beef up security on borders to curb transnational organised crime in the region.
Inspector General of Police, IGP, Saidi Mwema
Briefing reporters on the SARPCCO 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, the organisation’s outgoing chairperson, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Saidi Mwema, said joint operations would frequently be carried out to control illegal immigrants, drug trafficking and vehicle theft.
He said the joint operations would be conducted between the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states, saying the goal to involve the EAC is to control the illegal immigrants. “We want to track down criminal syndicates to control transnational organised crime in the region,” noted the country’s police boss.
Tanzania has been used as a gateway of illegal immigrants from Ethiopia and Eritrea to South Africa and reports suggest that criminal agents facilitate transport of the unlawful immigrants while on the way in the country and Kenya.
IGP Mwema explained that apart from SARPCCO’s goals the joint operations would be targeting goals of the International Police (Interpol) and the East African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO). “For instance, we cannot control illegal immigrants without involving countries of their origin,” said the IGP.
Incoming SARPCCO chairperson, Lt General Sebastian Ndeitunga, who is the Namibia’s IGP, said the joint operations would be carried out under bilateral and multilateral agreements, saying unity was vital to curb transnational organised crime. The three-day meeting was attended by 14 member states of SARPCCO, whereby Directors of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and police chiefs discussed different challenges facing the regional security.
In his closing speech, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Mbarak Abdulwakil, said criminal networks were expanding their operations and diversify their activities, resulting in a convergence of transnational threats that have become more complex, volatile and destabilising.
“These networks also threaten interests of our countries in the region and they use power and influence to further their criminal activities to maximise profits and elude the security forces,” he said.
By LUDOVICK KAZOKA, Tanzania Daily News
