Maputo, January 17th 2019: The delegation from Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam has finished its study tour to exchange experience with the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Attorney General’s Office (PGR), and National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) of Mozambique.
During the three day working visit (14 – 16/01/2019), representatives from law enforcement agencies of Vietnam and Mozambique introduced their respective legal frameworks, functions and duties of enforcement agencies in handling transcontinental wildlife offences, and the enforcement of relevant laws in each country.
Based on the results of discussing current cooperation mechanism between the two countries in combating illegal wildlife trade and challenges in handling cases that involves Vietnamese and Mozambican citizens, both sides agreed to designate the Interpol Office in each country as the focal point agency to share information in handling wildlife related cases.
Colonel Tran Minh Le, Deputy Head of the Office of Investigation Police Agency, Head of the Delegation, stated: “Environmental crime in general and wildlife crime in particular has been increasingly aggressive and reckless. Criminals make use of exquisite and varying modus operandi to avoid authority detection and gain illicit profits. Wildlife crime is attracting more attention from countries and international organizations for its severe impacts on natural environment and the community’s well-being not only within the scope of a specific country but all over the world. Timely information sharing between countries is thereby of the utmost importance. The Interpol office in each country is now the key international cooperation focal point agency to promote mutual understanding and effective cooperation in detecting and handling wildlife crime”.
Assist. Commissioner Vincente Dino Chicote, Deputy Director General of National Criminal investigation Service (SERNIC), put it that: “Law enforcement agencies in Mozambique highly appreciate this working visit of the delegation from Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam. Wildlife crime is transcontinental, organized by nature; therefore, it is essential to enhance cooperation between the two countries to combat this type of crime. Endangered, rare and precious wildlife products originating from Africa generally and Mozambique particularly are transported to and traded in Asian markets, including Vietnam, Cambodia and China. The bilateral meeting between Vietnam and Mozambique will contribute to build up trust among law enforcement agencies of the two countries, and facilitate opportunities to cooperate effectively in detecting and handling wildlife crime.”
Supporting the organization of this bilateral meeting, WCS provided data compiled from the media on the situation of illegal wildlife trafficking between Vietnam and Mozambique as the input for better discussion among agencies to find out solutions to challenges in combating wildlife trafficking between the two countries. WCS also expressed its commitment to continue to support capacity building activities for law enforcement agencies of both Vietnam and Mozambique, and to promote concrete cooperation actions between the two countries.