INTERPOL Launches Capacity Building Webinar for Operation Pangea XVII to Combat Transnational Pharmaceutical Crime

On 3 December 2024, at 8:00 pm (Singapore time), INTERPOL conducted an online training session via WebEx titled "Capacity Building and Training Webinar 1" as part of Operation Pangea XVII. The session was organized by Mr. Perry Ng, a Criminal Intelligence Officer specializing in Criminal Networks, Public Health, and Pharmaceutical Crime at the Global Complex for Innovation, INTERPOL, based in Singapore. This training was attended by 125 participants representing over 190 INTERPOL member countries, reflecting the global commitment to combating pharmaceutical crime. Representing the ASEANAPOL Secretariat during the session were Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, Executive Director of ASEANAPOL, along with DSP Abdul Hamid Abdul Hashim, Police Service Officer I, ASP Nithia Perumal, Police Service Officer II, and ASP Engku Nurul 'Aini Engku Malek, Plan and Programme Officer II.

This session was the first of six regular training sessions under Operation Pangea XVII, an initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and private sector stakeholders to combat pharmaceutical crime on a global scale. The training provided participants with critical knowledge and skills to address the increasing threat posed by counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment. The session covered a range of essential topics, including Global and Regional Perspectives on Pharmaceutical Crime, which highlighted current crime trends and challenges. Industry perspectives were also presented, with representatives from Novo Nordisk, Johnson & Johnson, and Novartis sharing insights under the segments titled Brand's Perspectives 1, 2, and 3 respectively. These discussions provided practical information on how to identify and mitigate threats posed by counterfeit pharmaceuticals. A representative from INTERPOL concluded the session with a presentation on the Global/Regional Perspective on Pharmaceutical Crime, further emphasizing the shared responsibility of countries, organizations, and industries in tackling this transnational issue.

Throughout the session, participants were guided on how to identify, detect, report, and document counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs and medical equipment. The speakers stressed the urgency of addressing this growing crime, which has become a transnational threat affecting countries worldwide. As counterfeit pharmaceutical crimes continue to rise annually, the training aimed to bolster the collective capacity of law enforcement, prosecutors, and industry partners to counter this menace effectively. This initiative highlights INTERPOL's ongoing commitment to supporting global law enforcement in the fight against pharmaceutical crime.

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