On 12 October 2017, ASEANAPOL Secretariat received a visit from officers of the Embassy of the United States in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. David C. Smith, Legal Attaché, Supervisory Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Mr. Mike Casey, Political Officer, Embassy of the United States. They were welcomed by the Executive Director of ASEANAPOL Secretariat, Insp. Gen. Yohanes Agus Mulyono, Director for Police Services PSSUPT Ferdinand R. P. Bartolome and Director for Plan & Programme ACP Aidah Othman and Staff. The visit was an introductory meeting between the two sides after the United States Government (FBI) had been approved as an Observer with ASEANAPOL. This approval was obtained by consensus from all Chiefs of ASEAN National Police during the recently concluded 37th ASEANAPOL Conference held in Singapore.
On the visit, the Secretariat discussed the role and experiences of the ASEANAPOL in responding to the challenges faced in transnational crime across the region as a cooperation mechanism for the ASEAN Member States. ASEANAPOL as a significant player in ensuring the enhancement of enforcement networks, particularly in the capacity building of personnel in strategy on combating and prevention of transnational crime. Discussion between Official visitors focused on the current intelligence and information sharing system of ASEAN countries, looking further on enhancing a relationship with United States Government (FBI). They also discussed sharing intelligence and expertise on forensic science by which the Member Countries can improve information sharing in tackling other transnational crime.
