Global crime networks cooperate 'better than police'

SINGAPORE: Transnational crime syndicates are becoming stronger by exploiting technology, forging links with each other and taking advantage of insufficient coordination among the world's police forces, officials said yesterday.

Delegates at an annual conference of Interpol warned that law enforcement agencies must urgently boost the sharing of intelligence to fight criminals, who are increasingly in cahoots with terrorist networks including Al-Qaida.

"It is fair to say that criminals are ahead of governments in exploiting the most advanced tools of globalization," such as international travel, banking and trade, US Deputy Attorney General David Ogden said.