Indonesia and Australia open crime center
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.