South Korea is seeking to host an Interpol regional office in Seoul to coordinate efforts against drug trafficking and other transnational crimes across the Asia-Pacific region, the Korean National Police Agency said Wednesday.
The agency aims to launch an Interpol drug response task force in 2027 and open the regional office in 2029, when Seoul is scheduled to host the organization’s General Assembly. Establishing the office would require approval from Interpol’s Executive Committee and General Assembly.
“Drug crime knows no borders, so member countries in the region need a hub where they can share intelligence and conduct joint operations on an ongoing basis,” said Kim Dong-kwon, director general of the KNPA’s International Cooperation Bureau.
Korean delegation led by Kim is attending Interpol’s Global Drugs Conference in Prague. The delegation plans to present the proposal Thursday, the conference’s final day, and seek support from member countries.
The agency said it has been consulting with key Interpol departments on strengthening cooperation against drug crime in Asia and establishing a drug response hub in Korea.
The proposed task force would perform functions similar to those of a regional office until the permanent office opens. It would be staffed by Interpol personnel and police officers seconded from member countries in the region.
Its responsibilities would include analyzing drug case intelligence, planning and coordinating multinational operations, supporting the issuance of Interpol notices and efforts to locate fugitives, tracing criminal proceeds and training investigators from member countries.
The regional office would complement Interpol’s existing hubs by providing ongoing support for joint operations, intelligence analysis and training.
It would initially focus on drug crime before expanding to other transnational offenses, including digital sex crimes and scams.
The agency plans to continue discussions with Interpol’s General Secretariat at high-level talks during the General Assembly in Hong Kong in December, including submitting a letter expressing Korea’s interest in hosting the office.
shwang9@heraldcorp.com