Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 14th ASEANAPOL Contact Persons Meeting (ACPM) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 14th ASEANAPOL Contact Persons Meeting (ACPM) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from the 1st to 4th of July 2024. This meeting brought together 70 representatives from 10 ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs), including Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Cambodian National Police (CNP), Indonesian National Police (INP), Lao Police Force (LPF), Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Myanmar Police Force (MPF), Philippine National Police (PNP), Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Thai Police (RTP), and Vietnam Police Force (VPF). Additionally, there were 8 Dialogue Partners (DPs) in attendance, namely: Australian Federal Police (AFP), Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of China, National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan, Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), New Zealand Police (NZP), Ministry of Interior of the Russian Federation, National Crime Agency of United Kingdom (UK-NCA) and INTERPOL. The meeting also saw participation from 9 Observers (OBs), namely: Fiji Police Force, French Minis try of Interior, Gulf Cooperation Council Police (GCCPOL), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Public Security Department of Italian Interior Ministry, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Ministry of Interior of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Furthermore, 50 police officers from RMP including representatives from various police departments, namely: Inspector General of Police’s Secretariat, NCB INTERPOL Kuala Lumpur, Wildlife Crime Bureau, Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and especially with the engagement of Disaster Victim Identification unit from the Criminal Investigation Department present. The Turkish National Police, ASEAN Secretariat, and EUROPOL, along with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Argentinian Federal Police and the Bangladesh Police sent their regrets for being unable to attend this important meeting. Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, a bonafide member of the Philippine National Police and the 8th Executive Director of the ASEANAPOL Secretariat, presided over the meeting. Colonel Vinluan expressed his delight in hosting this esteemed gathering of law enforcement professionals from across the region and beyond.

This meeting was pivotal in reinforcing partnerships and formulating robust strategies against regional and global security threats. Participants actively engaged in discussions on the implementation of the 41st ASEANAPOL Joint Communique, which covers 14 core areas: Illicit drug trafficking, terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking/trafficking in persons, maritime fraud, wildlife crime, commercial crime, bank offenses and credit card fraud, cybercrime, fraudulent travel documents, transnational fraud, the Electronic ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS), Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Exchange of Personnel and Training Programs among ASEAN Police Forces, and the ASEAN Police Forensic Science Network. The sessions were designed not only to inspire action but also to deepen collaboration.

Furthermore, this meeting sets the stage for the forthcoming 42nd ASEANAPOL Conference, to be hosted by the Myanmar Police Force from October 21 to 23, 2024. During this gathering, the 10 Chiefs of ASEAN National Police, Dialogue Partners, and Observers will convene to make significant decisions impacting collective security. The culmination of the meeting was marked by the sharing of valuable inputs, best practices, and networking opportunities among the participants. These interactions have strengthened the professional bonds between ASEAN and global police forces and enhanced their collective capability to address shared security challenges.

Executive Director Vinluan encouraged the participants to seize this opportunity to strengthen bonds and explore innovative approaches together. In the words of Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos, one of the founding fathers of ASEANAPOL, "Good governance depends on the ability to communicate; and communication flows two ways – upwards and downwards, around and among people." He further emphasized fostering a culture of open dialogue and two-way communication throughout the deliberations.

ASEANAPOL’s Mission: “Preventing and Combating Transnational Crime through a greater nexus and creative policing collaboration”.

ASEANAPOL’s Vision: “Together We keep this Region Safe”

ASEANAPOL’s Motto: “Fight Crimes, Love Humanity and Help Delinquents”