Mr Noble and Mr Fujino take questions from the media

News and Media Releases   INTERPOL-UNODC Global Congress to address International Financial Crime issues (17/04/2007)      Speeches   Opening speech by Secretary General Ronald K. Noble (21/03/2007)   See also   More information

BANGKOK, Thailand – Money laundering, terrorism financing and corruption are among the key issues scheduled for discussion at the Global Financial Crime Congress jointly organized by INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The three-day Congress aims to identify and assess the latest developments, technologies and strategies which are working in combating financial crime, in addition to finding new solutions and opportunities to enhance co-operation between and among law enforcement and the private sector.

'Financial crime, though it receives far less attention from the media than violent crime, has a devastating impact on individuals, industries, governments, and societies,' said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.

'It poses a serious national and international security threat, and provides the fuel for drug dealers, terrorists, illegal arms dealers, corrupt public officials, and others to operate and expand their criminal enterprises.'

The Congress underlines the growing international solidarity to tackle financial crime and aims at building synergies across agencies and sectors.

UNODC’s Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa welcomed increased co-operation with INTERPOL in helping countries combat financial crime.

'National economies everywhere, and certainly in the developing world, suffer damage caused by the infiltration of criminal proceeds, including the ill-gotten gains from corruption and those funds destined for use in terrorist activities. Tracing, seizing and confiscating these funds is of the highest priority – in order to cut off the lifeblood of the underlying crime, and to plough those assets back into much-needed development. The Congress will strengthen our joint efforts to better equip states for this battle.'

The international legal frameworks addressing transnational crime and their corresponding set of national laws and regulations are growing. The United Nations Conventions against Corruption and Transnational Organized Crime are the most recent legal tools developed. One of the UNODC’s priorities is to help countries implement these instruments.

In 2006, INTERPOL announced the creation of its international Anti-Corruption Academy which will provide training, education and technical assistance to member countries, and will also conduct research on trends, best practice and new techniques in anti-corruption investigations.

More than 200 experts from law enforcement, multilateral organizations, customs, industry and academia are participating in the meeting which also aims to identify methods of improving communication and co-ordination between the public and private sectors in combating financial crime.