The 7th ASEAN Police Forensic Science Network (APFSN) Meeting was held from April 29 to 30, 2025, at Jasmine Palace Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar. Organized by the Myanmar Police Force (MPF) and supported by the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, the event gathered forensic experts, crime scene investigators, and senior police officials from ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs). The meeting reaffirmed the region’s shared commitment to enhancing forensic capabilities as part of the broader strategy against transnational crime.
The meeting was officially opened under the leadership of the Chief of the Myanmar Police Force, ably represented by Police Major General Tin Ko Ko, Deputy Chief of Police. Also present were Police Brigadier Kyaw Zaya, Head of the Division Against Transnational Crime, and Police Lieutenant Colonel Myo Thant Tin, the MPF’s ASEANAPOL Contact Person. Police Lieutenant General Direk Thananonniwas of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) participated as Co-Chair of the APFSN Meeting, underscoring Thailand's active support in advancing forensic cooperation across the region. A significant highlight of the opening session was the formal handover of the DVI/CSI Chairmanship from the Indonesian National Police (INP) to the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), witnessed by Police Brigadier Kyaw Zaya, signifying a smooth and unified transition of leadership within APFSN.
Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, delivered an impactful keynote address that set a reflective and determined tone. He led the delegation in a moment of silence to honor the victims of the March 28, 2025, earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand, emphasizing unity and remembrance. He thanked the MPF for its hospitality and acknowledged the INP for its leadership as the outgoing DVI/CSI Chair. Using powerful allegories, he called on ASEAN police forces to foster a culture of preparedness, compassion, and mutual support as “Good Neighbors.”
The meeting also featured updates from AMCs on their respective forensic capabilities, particularly in Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI). Discussions focused on harmonizing forensic procedures, investing in mobile laboratories, and integrating modern forensic disciplines such as digital forensics and forensic psychology. A key output was the collective agreement to fast-track the development of Concept Notes that would expand the APFSN framework to cover a broader range of forensic sciences.
In his closing remarks, Executive Director Vinluan encouraged AMCs to actively advocate for the inclusion of APFSN and ASEANAPOL in formal ASEAN mechanisms such as the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC). He stressed that sustained visibility, formal recognition, and integration within ASEAN structures would ensure that forensic science remains central to the region’s transnational crime response and crisis coordination efforts.
The Executive Director concluded with a strong call to action, urging the incoming DVI/CSI Chair—the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF)—to lead efforts in organizing, training, and operationalizing national APFSN Teams within each AMC. These teams, he emphasized, must be deployable, interoperable, and capable of immediate support to neighboring countries during emergencies. He also reiterated the need to complete and adopt comprehensive Concept Notes that encompass all branches of forensic science, thereby strengthening the investigative and prosecutorial capacity of ASEAN police forces and reinforcing forensic science as a strategic pillar in ASEAN’s regional security framework.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"
