Seoul: An international investigative group, joined by South Korea and seven other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, has been launched to better tackle regional transnational crime, South Korean police announced. The newly formed International Investigative Cooperation Alliance aims to enhance international cooperation against crimes that cross borders, including online scams and cryptocurrency theft, as stated by the National Police Agency (NPA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, officials from the United States, Cambodia, and Thailand, among others, will participate in this organization, alongside Interpol and ASEANAPOL, a police cooperation organization between Southeast Asian nations. The group seeks to address crimes more effectively, particularly those targeting South Korean nationals in Southeast Asia, following reports of abductions and confinements linked to scam centers in Cambodia.
The alliance plans to conduct joint transnational operations, improve information sharing on scam centers, and establish real-time response systems between countries. An NPA official emphasized the commitment to creating a new model for international public safety through this organization. The NPA also intends to expand the number of participating countries within the group.