From 18 to 20 February 2025, ASEANAPOL Secretariat Executive Director Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan and Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director for Plans and Programmes, participated in the INTERPOL Counter-Terrorism Working Group Meeting for the Asia-Pacific Region under Operation Maharlika 4 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hosted by
INTERPOL and funded by the Government of Japan, the meeting focused on enhancing regional cooperation in counter-terrorism and tackling emerging security threats in Southeast Asia. With the theme "Current and Emerging Terrorism Threats and Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region," the discussions reinforced the ASEANAPOL Secretariat’s commitment to strengthening regional law enforcement collaboration.
A key topic of discussion was the Counter-Terrorism in Southeast Asia (CT-SEA) Project, a 12-month initiative (March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025) also funded by the Government of Japan. The project aims to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts by: Implementing operational measures to disrupt terrorist networks; Promoting awareness campaigns on INTERPOL’s biometric services; and Enhancing the exchange of police data across the region.
A significant part of the meeting centered on INTERPOL’s Maharlika Project, a regional security initiative designed to detect and prevent terrorist movements, foreign terrorist fighters, and transnational crimes. The project leverages advanced biometric screening, real-time intelligence sharing, and strengthened border security measures to help frontline officers identify high-risk individuals and mitigate security threats. Operation Maharlika 4 builds on previous successes, reinforcing regional security cooperation and improving the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in utilizing INTERPOL’s global policing tools.
The meeting was attended by representatives from various regional and international law enforcement agencies, including: Royal Brunei Police Force, Cambodia Police Force, Laos Police Force, Royal Malaysia Police, Singapore Police Force, Philippine National Police, Royal Thai Police, OIPA-Vietnam Police Force, Australian Federal Police (AFP); New Zealand Police Force; Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC); Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), Macao Public Security Police Force (PSP) and INTERPOL relevant offices.
The participation of these agencies underscores the collective commitment to enhancing counter-terrorism collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region. Through initiatives like Operation Maharlika 4, INTERPOL and its partners continue to strengthen border security, disrupt criminal networks, and prevent terrorist activities, ensuring a safer and more secure ASEAN community.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"