Indonesia and Australia open crime center
P.C. Naommy, Jakarta
Indonesia and Australia inaugurated on Friday the Transnational Crime Coordination Center (TNCC) to fight transnational crimes, including people smuggling, drug trafficking and terrorism, in Southeast Asia.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Australian Federal Police (AFP) chief Commissioner Mick Keelty officially launched the center at the Indonesian National Central Bureau- Interpol Headquarters in Jakarta.
The concept of the center emerged in the aftermath of the Bali bombings in October 2002 when the AFP supported Indonesian police in the investigation of the case.
The Bali bombings killed 202 people, mostly Australians, and injured 300 others. The attacks were organized by the UN-listed terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), which has links to Al- Qaeda.
"This is an opportunity for the AFP to work even closer with the Indonesian National Police since we have been working for some time in people trafficking, narcotics law enforcement and, of course, terrorism," said Keelty.
The center will cover areas such as criminal intelligence analysis, financial investigation, bomb scene management, crime scene investigation, post blast screening and victim identification.
According to Keelty, collaboration had been proven to be successful at curtailing drug trafficking. He cited as an example the confiscation of 1.5 tons of amphetamines in Fiji during transit from China to the Philippines.
He further said that TNCC would sound a major warning for criminals who were trying to conduct transnational offenses in Southeast Asia.
The objectives of the TNCC are to enhance the operational expertise of regional law enforcement in personnel terms in dealing with transnational crimes, and to strengthen cooperation among regional police forces.
Da'i said: "The TNCC is the place to share information on transnational crimes between police headquarters and provincial police headquarters, and also with police from other countries."
Da'i said that the center would also help the police to seek top terrorist suspects Noordin Mohammad Top and Azahari bin Husin, alleged bomb experts from Malaysia who reportedly played big roles in the Bali bombings, and the JW Marriott Hotel attack in 2003.
He further said that the AFP would help in providing assistance and equipment, such as computer hardware and software, for the center.