LIMA, Peru – INTERPOL’s 18th Americas Regional Conference opened on Tuesday with a call from senior officials for enhanced police co-operation to combat terrorism and transnational crime.

The three-day meeting in Lima brings together senior police officers from 29 countries in INTERPOL’s Americas region.

Key issues to be discussed by delegates include drug trafficking, organised crime gangs, financial fraud and counterfeiting.

High on the agenda will be expanded use of INTERPOL’s global police communications system, I-24/7, to include strategic locations such as airports and border control points. Every country in the Americas region is now connected to the INTERPOL electronic communications system.

‘Today, the threats of transnational crime and terrorism respect neither boundaries nor national borders. Developments that have made it possible to move goods, people and money through the global economy have also facilitated the movement of illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, arms, persons, nuclear materials and "dirty money",’ INTERPOL President Jackie Selebi said.

‘These new security threats not only put traditional law enforcement methods under careful review, but also emphasise the need for greater and more effective co-operation, not only among local police units, but also between national and international law enforcement agencies.

‘As we fellow members in law enforcement gather here, our only aim is to ensure that we improve and enhance our performance in order to secure our communities.’

INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble also called on member countries to further develop regional and international co-operation.

‘We need to get the relevant police information to the right police officers at the right place and at the right time,’ Mr Noble said.

‘And to do this we need strong INTERPOL National Central Bureaus.’

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo welcomed the delegates during the opening ceremony and emphasised the need for effective policing both nationally and internationally.

Mr Toledo said: ‘We need to build a global security strategy that will be part of the international agenda in which a key player should be INTERPOL….Let us not allow countries of the world to become havens for those who commit crimes.’