Strengthening Regional Security: ASEANAPOL Secretariat Hosts Russian Federation Delegation for High-Level Dialogue on Transnational Organized Crime

On February 27, 2025, the ASEANAPOL Secretariat had the honor of hosting Mr. Igor Zubov, State Secret ary - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, for an in-depth discussion on transnational organized crime in the ASEAN region. He was accompanied by Mr. Vladimir Bogatyrev, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Alexander Korkh, First Secretary of the Russian Federation in Malaysia.

Executive Director David Martinez Vinluan, together with officials from the Secretariat, underscored ASEANAPOL’s focus on core crime areas. Executive Director Vinluan expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for its steadfast role as a Dialogue Partner since 2014. He also highlighted ongoing efforts in regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and capacity-buildi ng initiatives aimed at combating transnational organized crime. The discussion further explored the Russian Federation’s contributions to capacity-building training programs designed to equip police officers from ASEANAPOL Member Countries (AMCs) with the necessary knowledge, skills, and capabilities for transnational crime prevention. These efforts also contribute to broader global security initiatives.

Mr. Igor Zubov emphasized the persistent challenge of drug trafficking, noting its global prevalence and the increasing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in crime, which is exerting an impact even on smaller nations. He further elaborated that drug-related crimes generate billions of dollars in illicit profits, often leading to criminal networks becoming more extremist in nature. In this regard, he acknowledged the vital role of international organizations such as INTERPOL and ASEANAPOL in combating cross-border crimes.

Executive Director Vinluan reaffirmed ASEANAPOL’s mission and vision, emphasizing the unified commitment of all 10 AMCs in addressing major transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism, arms smuggling, and financial crimes. Given the complexity of these challenges, he stressed the importance of a coordinated regional response, with each AMC playing an active role in strengthening security efforts.

Additionally, Executive Director Vinluan noted that in 2024, the Russian Federation conducted four (4) capacity-building training programs for ASEANAPOL. Furthermore, for 2025, eight ( online courses will be offered by the Russian Federation, all of which align with ASEANAPOL’s 14 core crime areas. These initiatives reflect the ongoing cooperation and collaboration between the Russian Federation and the ASEANAPOL Secretariat.

In conclusion, the visit served as a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and insights on the evolving threats posed by transnational organized crime, further reinforcing the strong partnership between ASEANAPOL and the Russian Federation in advancing regional and global security.

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