Latest news with #transnationalCrime
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Shamsul Anuar: Malaysia committed to tackling transnational crime with new Asean action plan
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Malaysia is actively participating in efforts to combat transnational crime, with Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah highlighting the nation's role in developing a new Plan of Action to Combat Transnational Crime (2026–2035) and a Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crimes (SOMTC) Work Programme (2026–2028). Shamsul Anuar said the new plan and work programme would guide Asean's response to crime over the next decade. 'Our goal is to make these plans practical and ready for future threats, including cybercrime, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and terrorism. We want to work closely with partners like Russia and welcome their support and contributions. 'On regional security, Malaysia believes peace depends on strong arms control and following international rules. We support dialogue and trust-building to keep the region safe,' he said at the Asean-Russia Consultations of High Representatives for Security Issues - 13th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters (13th HROSM) held in Moscow, Russia. The meeting was chaired by the Russian Federation's Minister of Foreign Affairs, S.V. Lavrov. According to Shamsul Anuar, Malaysia is proud of the progress on the Comprehensive Plan of Action for the Asean-Russia Strategic Partnership (2026–2030), which he believes would help both sides work more closely in important areas. 'We support the SOMTC + Russia Work Plan (2025–2028) to fight transnational crimes such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and cybercrime. We hope this plan can be finalised soon and officially agreed upon,' he said. He added that Malaysia also stressed the need for better coordination and information sharing between Asean and its partners to handle new security threats, including terrorism, cyber threats, and other transnational crimes. 'The 25th Asean SOMTC will be held in Malaysia from June 23 to 27, 2025. We look forward to welcoming all members and partners, including Russia, to Putrajaya. We are also hosting the 17th SOMTC + Russia Consultation on June 25, 2025, to strengthen our joint efforts against transnational crime. 'Malaysia remains fully committed to working closely with Asean and the Russian Federation to ensure our cooperation stays strong, relevant, and beneficial for all,' he said. — Bernama
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Flight carrying senior Kinahan cartel member Sean McGovern lands in Ireland
An extradition flight carrying a senior member of the Kinahan cartel has landed in Baldonnell this evening. 39-year-old, Sean McGovern was on an Irish air corps flight from the UAE, after being detained there late last year. Advertisement He has arrived off the flight and he is now being brought to Garda HQ. During a press conference in Dublin on Thursday evening ahead of the court appearance Garda Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon said the man arrested had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. Speaking about the Garda's work with international partners, she said: 'Our relationship with authorities across the world including with the Ministry of Justice at judicial level in the United Arab Emirates, and on a police-to-police basis, is valued and one which we will continue to develop. 'This relationship has been supported by Irish governmental and diplomatic efforts. 'Transnational crime groups cause misery not only in Ireland but throughout the world. 'We will continue in our efforts along with international partners to disrupt and dismantle these groups.' McGovern is due to appear before the Special Criminal Court later this evening.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
ASEAN Secy-General lauds Indian Parliament's engagement in promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue
Jakarta: The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, held a meeting with Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn on Wednesday at the ASEAN Headquarters where Hourn highlighted ASEAN'S Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. Both sides also exchanged views on transnational crime, including combating terrorism and violent extremism. In a post on X, ASEAN stated, "Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call from a delegation of Indian Parliamentarians at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, SG Dr. Kao commended the Indian Parliament's active engagement in promoting inter-parliamentary dialogue and ASEAN-India cooperation, particularly as an observer in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)." The post further added, "He highlighted the significance of aligning legislative and executive efforts in advancing ASEAN's regional priorities, and reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. They also exchanged views on transnational crime, including combating terrorism and violent extremism." The delegation also held a meeting with Indonesia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arief Havas Oegroseno, on Wednesday. The delegation, led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid and Mohan Kumar. Earlier in the day, an all-party delegation met Vice Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Muhammad Husein Fadlulloh, and Chairperson of the Indonesia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, Muhammad Rofiqi, to brief them on India's strong commitment against terrorism. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Indonesia stated, "The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Hon'ble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Hon. Mr. Muhammad Husein Fadlulloh, Vice-Chairperson of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation and Hon. Mr. Muhammad Rofiqi, S.H Chairperson of Indonesia-India Parliamentary Friendship Group, to sensitise them on India's strong commitment against terrorism. Indonesian side conveyed that they condemn terrorism and believe in dialogue for solving problems, not terrorism as it is against humanity, supporting India's zero-tolerance approach." During the meeting, the Indonesian side condemned terrorism and said that they believe in dialogue for resolving problems and not terrorism, as it is against humanity. The delegation is visiting many countries as part of India's global outreach against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. The delegation has so far visited Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Prolonged Myanmar crisis spurs drugs, weapons trade, warns Thai official
Dusit Manapan, adviser to the Thai foreign minister, speaking during an interview on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur. KUALA LUMPUR : Thailand has warned that transnational crime could worsen if the instability in Myanmar continues. Dusit Manapan, an adviser to Thailand's foreign minister, said that while international attention has largely focused on scam syndicates, Myanmar's political instability brings risks of an uptick in other crimes such as drug trafficking and weapons trading. He said these criminal activities along the Myanmar border stem from the government's limitation to enforce law and order along the border. 'We have tried to stop these criminal activities by not providing some resources, electricity, fuel, and internet,' Dusit told FMT on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits here. 'But our measures, our harsh measures, are partly successful. At the end of the day, they can find a way to replace what they lost from other sources.' According to Dusit, aerial surveillance through drones has also been hindered by advanced counter-technology. 'When you cut electricity and the internet, they resort to Starlink and solar cells,' he added. The political crisis in Myanmar began with the February 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected government and triggered widespread armed resistance. As the conflict escalated, large parts of the country, especially border areas, have become lawless zones exploited to operate scam centres, drug routes, and arms trafficking networks with little interference. Dusit said addressing the root cause of scam centres is crucial, as they generate substantial revenue for organised crime. 'Otherwise, we will continue to have this kind of problem. After online scams, you will have drug trafficking. You have weapons trade,' Dusit said. According to the United Nations, East and Southeast Asia collectively lost up to US$37 billion to cyber-enabled fraud, underscoring the scale of these operations. Myanmar has become a key hub, not only for online scams but also as the world's largest opium producer, surpassing Afghanistan. 'There are many ethnic armed groups involved. This is a business that makes a lot of money for the groups, so they have money to buy weapons. 'They need to earn some income, so that they can have resources to fight the government,' he said. The 46th Asean Summit is being held here today and will likely address transnational crimes like online scams at the highest level. Malaysia, as Asean chair, has called for enhanced legal harmonisation and information-sharing mechanisms among member states to counter growing transnational threats, according to foreign minister Mohamad Hasan's address to the 29th Asean Political-Security Council Meeting.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Cambodia is home to world's most powerful criminal network: report
A newly released report has named senior Cambodian political figures as central players in what it describes as possibly the world's most powerful criminal network – a multibillion-dollar, Southeast Asia-based cybercrime industry that experts warn may soon become 'too big to fail'. Written by transnational crime and regional security specialist Jacob Sims, the report says Cambodia is becoming the centre of an exploding global scam economy driven primarily by Chinese organised crime. It warns that the scale of illegal activities threatens global economic and political stability, and is thriving through state-sanctioned corruption. 'While Myanmar and Laos boast towering scam economies, one country stands above its peers in terms of likely scale and durability: Cambodia,' the report concluded. 'Cambodia is likely the absolute global epicentre of next-gen transnational fraud in 2025 and is certainly the country most primed for explosive growth going forward.' Published by the US-funded Humanity Research Consultancy, Sims' report follows a chilling assessment by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which last month expressed alarm at the exponential growth of Southeast Asia-based transnational crime with its reach having extended to the Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Southeast Asian-based crime syndicates have quickly evolved from synthetic drug production to unregulated casinos and online gambling, and are now world leaders in 'industrial scale' cyber-enabled fraud and scams enabled by networks of human traffickers, money launderers, technology experts, and data brokers, according to the UNODC. It added the 'professionalisation' of recruitment continued to attract countless, often talented but underemployed, young people from more than 60 countries through deceptive job offers, noting some became willing participants in illegal activities but many end up essentially as slaves subject to extortion and ransom demands, and coercion ranging from beatings to torture and even murder.
