A visiting Australian Federal Police Advisor to the Micronesian Transnational Crime Unit has underscored the need for the CNMI to help the region gather intelligence information to battle transnational crimes.
Pohnpei-based federal agent Mic Murray told Saipan Tribune yesterday the CNMI plays a vital role as a member of the MTCU because the program provides intelligence capability that affects the region.
Murray said the CNMI can assist Micronesia in the detection of transnational crimes such as illegal fishing, people smuggling, corruption, weapons trafficking, fraud, drugs, and money laundering.
Murray cited the problem of illegal fishing.
“Illegal fishing is a terrible thing that affects the economy of all the countries in the region,” he said. “What we are after is public support. Information is treated as confidential. Without public support the information is limited.”
The federal officer met yesterday with some police officials and other local law enforcement representatives.
Murray arrived on Saipan Monday. He is expected to go back to Pohnpei on Friday.
Department of Public Safety Police Officer 1 Murphy Paul was deployed for six months to the MTCU in Pohnpei. Police Officer III Sandy Hambros will replace Paul as CNMI representative to MTCU in Pohnpei starting July 20, 2009.
MTCU was established in April 2008.
MTCU is one of eight joint law enforcement intelligence units that are spread across the Pacific. Its main role is criminal intelligence gathering and target development.
Based in Pohnpei, MTCU consists of law enforcement representatives from Pohnpei, CNMI, Palau, and FSM.
The Australian Federal Office provides investigative and financial support to MTCU.
Other transnational crime units are located in PNG, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji.
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