Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibian police force (NamPol) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Namibian Ports Authority (NamPort), allowing NamPol to conduct searches on all vessels that dock at Namibian ports and cross-check international data on the Interpol database to detect any criminal activity that might be hidden on any of the vessels.
The MoU signing took place in Walvis Bay at the NamPort headquarters and will enable Namibian Police to obtain the passenger manifest list from vessels in advance and cross-check international data. They can also conduct searches for imported motor vehicles, stolen or lost travel documents, wanted persons, and works of art on the Interpol database.
Lt. Gen. Joseph Shimweelao Shikongo, Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Force, explained during the signing that the implementation of this Memorandum of Agreement is clearly stipulated in the agreement. However, General Shikongo stressed that this MoA does not allow NamPol to delegate its powers or mandate to NamPort.
“NamPol will handle all cases arising from and through the implementation of this MoA. However, NamPort should continue collaborating with NamPol by providing witness statements, including all supportive documents that could be used to register cases. I would further like to assure you, ladies and gentlemen, that the information exchanged under this MoA will be treated as confidential and privileged. Such information will only be shared with third parties when required by law or in furtherance of the aims of this MoA,” Shikongo said.
The chief police officer further stated that the agreement will assist the Namibian Police Force in combating Transnational Organized Crimes (TOCs) and, by doing so, mitigate Namibia’s risk of being grey-listed by the Eastern and Southern African Anti Money Laundering Group and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Regarding the systems used to apprehend criminals, Shikongo mentioned that the INTERPOL-NCB Division of the Namibian Police Force is connected to the I-24/7 system (INTERPOL Secured Global Communication Systems), a technical network that links law enforcement agencies in all 195 member countries. This network enables authorized users to share sensitive and urgent police information with their counterparts around the globe.
Namibia’s membership with INTERPOL was endorsed during the 61st INTERPOL General Assembly session in Dakar, Senegal, in November 1992.
Shikongo stated that transnational organized crime, in the form of terrorism, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, illicit trafficking of stolen motor vehicles, illicit financial flows, trafficking in illicit drugs, and the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, among other issues, pose a significant threat to peace, security, stability, and development in the SADC region.
Furthermore, he added that the widespread availability of technology, ease of travel, poverty, youth unemployment, corruption, porous borders, and globalization all contribute to the ease with which crime can be committed across regional and international borders.
“While SADC, as a Regional Economic Community, advocates accelerating economic growth through the free movement of persons, goods, and capital, it makes regional cooperation among its partner countries more important than ever to effectively control borders and thereby prevent and detect irregular movements, criminal activities, and terrorism. In this regard, heightening border security through the expansion of the I-24/7 Global Communication System beyond NCBs becomes relevant,” Shikongo said.
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