Strengthening Regional Bonds: ASEANAPOL and Japan Deepen Strategic Law Enforcement Cooperation

On 11 April 2025, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat had the honour of receiving a courtesy visit from Mr. Riho Yuki, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was held at the ASEANAPOL Secretariat office and was attended by Police Senior Superintendent Huntal Tambunan, Director for Police Services; Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc, Director for Plans and Programmes; Superintendent Siva Perghasum Shanmugam, Head of Administrative and Technical Staff; Deputy Superintendent Suresh Subramaniam, Plans and Programmes Officer I; and Deputy Superintendent Abdul Hamid Abdul Hashim, Police Services Officer I—under the leadership of Executive Director, Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan.

This engagement aimed to strengthen ASEANAPOL’s collaboration with Japan as a valued Dialogue Partner, particularly through its longstanding cooperation with the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan. The meeting served as a p latform to advance shared interests in combatting transnational organized crime and enhancing law enforcement capacity across the region.

During the session, Police Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Ngoc delivered a comprehensive briefing on ASEANAPOL’s mission, vision, and strategic direction. He highlighted current initiatives focused on building the capacity of frontliners, coordinating joint operations, and responding to emerging crime trends. Emphasis was placed on ASEANAPOL’s proactive campaigns against scam syndicates connected to trafficking in persons and forced criminality, the prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) proliferation online, and efforts targeting illicit drug trafficking and wildlife crime.

Sr. Lt. Col. Ngoc underscored the urgency of a unified approach to addressing these cross-border threats. He called for enhanced cooperation with the National Police Agency of Japan, facilitated through the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, emphasizing the importance of pooling resources and expertise to protect communities in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

In response, Mr. Yuki expressed appreciation for ASEANAPOL’s initiatives and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to regional peace and security. He conveyed int erest in linking ASEANAPOL with relevant counterparts from the NPA of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to explore avenues for technical assistance, capacity building, and information sharing.

The dialogue also explored potential collaboration in areas such as joint training, technology-based policing tools, and intelligence exchange, all aimed at enhancing regional security frameworks.

Both parties agreed to maintain close coordination and to convene follow-up meetings to evaluate the implementation of proposed activities. The discussion concluded with a shared commitment to advancing practical cooperation and reinforcing bilateral relations.

This meaningful exchange marks another step forward in ASEANAPOL’s pursuit of collective security through trusted partnerships.

“Together, We Keep This Region Safe.”





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