Letters

Support Taiwan's participation in Interpol for a safer global village

LETTERS: Timely intelligence sharing is key to combating transnational crime. Being able to exchange information in real time is crucial to combating transnational crime.

However, due to its exclusion from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Taiwan can only access critical intelligence indirectly.

By the time that information is received, it is often outdated, creating a challenging situation that allows transnational crime to thrive and exacerbates the harm caused.

In addressing new types of transnational crime, Interpol President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi stated on September 7 during International Police Cooperation Day that "by openly sharing intelligence, strategies, and resources, we are better equipped to confront global threats like transnational crime, human trafficking, and terrorism."

Taiwan is eager to share information and work with other countries to build a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for all.

Having garnered extensive experience in combating transnational crime such as telecommunication fraud, drug trafficking, cyberattacks, organized crime, and terrorism, Taiwan's law enforcement authorities have demonstrated their commitment to promoting peace and helping vulnerable people.

As global security is interconnected, cooperation between Taiwan and Interpol would help make the world a safer place.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan's 2024 Business Climate Survey reported that the high degree of personal safety was the most attractive aspect of life and work in Taiwan to foreign business professionals. Indeed, this has been cited as the biggest attraction for eight consecutive years.

According to the Numbeo safety index, Taiwan ranks as the fourth-safest country in the world, with a crime rate fourth-lowest among 146 countries, following only Andorra, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

With Taiwanese passports providing visa-free entry to more than 160 countries and areas around the world, there have been numerous cases of such passports being illegally traded by crime syndicates in other countries.

However, currently, Taiwan can neither obtain the latest information on crimes nor share intelligence on suspects of major crimes such as fraud and drug trafficking in a timely fashion.

Likewise, Taiwan is unable to provide other countries with crucial information regarding emerging criminal methods, its experiences in investigating related crimes, and details on forged passports. Taiwan's absence hampers efforts to prevent and stop criminal activities at their source.

Taiwan is willing and able to engage in joint law enforcement efforts. In 2017, for example, after Australian national Lisa Lines allegedly convinced a lover to attack her ex-husband with an ax, seriously injuring and paralyzing him, she fled to Taiwan to hide and work.

In September 2022, Interpol issued a red notice for Lines and a yellow notice for her young children.

However, Taiwan was not notified and remained unaware of the case until October 2023, when Australia contacted Taiwan to request assistance with the matter.

Subsequently, Taiwan conducted an investigation and alerted both Australia and Palau, leading to the arrest of Lines when she travelled to Palau with her children. She was then extradited to Australia to face trial, and her children were escorted back to Australia.

In 2024, the Interpol Stop Internet Piracy (I-SOP) initiative sought to address copyright violations and piracy crimes, issuing a report entitled Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Awareness for Potential Digital Piracy Services. The report highlighted a Taiwanese police investigation into the illegal broadcasting of Olympic events through the Unblock Tech TV box (also known as the Anbo box).

Interpol later asked Taiwan to share its related experiences and suggest potential measures for combating set-top box and other digital piracy services in the future so as to better protect intellectual property rights.

Therefore, Taiwan urges countries to support its participation in Interpol and make the global security network more comprehensive.

COMMISSIONER CHOU YEW-WOEI

Criminal Investigation Bureau

National Police Department

Taiwan

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