Call to boost global efforts against crime

Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza has called for stronger multilateral cooperation and coordination among law enforcement agencies as fraud, cybercrime and other forms of transnational crime grow in scale and complexity.

Addressing the 2026 Conference of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, which was held earlier this month in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, Urquiza said a defining feature of major crimes today is their increasingly transnational nature, with victims often located in one country while those behind the crimes operate from another.

Such threats cannot be effectively tackled by any one country alone, he said, calling on countries to pool resources, uphold multilateralism and coordinate their responses.

He highlighted China's role in international law enforcement cooperation, describing the country as a strong supporter and partner of Interpol, particularly in the fight against fraud.

In recent years, China and Interpol have cooperated on capacity building and operations targeting fraud-related crimes. Urquiza cited "Operation First Light" — a global law enforcement initiative targeting cross-border telecom and cyber fraud and related financial crimes — as one example, adding that related efforts had led to the arrest of more than 11,000 suspects and the identification or seizure of more than $600 million linked to fraudulent activities.

He also welcomed the establishment of the International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud, which was launched on Sept 10 with the participation of 46 countries.

Initiated by China, the alliance is designed to strengthen international coordination against cross-border telecom and cyber fraud.

Urquiza said telecom and cyber fraud have become a major priority for Interpol member countries. Between 2024 and 2025, the volume of Interpol notices and circulars concerning fraud, applied for issuance by its member states, increased by 55 percent.

He said initiatives such as the new alliance are particularly important because fighting online fraud requires collaboration, coordinated action and sustained multilateral cooperation.

Urquiza also spoke highly of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, noting that it provided an important platform for countries to exchange experiences, share law enforcement practices, discuss emerging security threats and develop joint responses.

Interpol has actively participated in the forum. Urquiza said the organization would take the outcomes of the discussions back to its headquarters and use them to better tailor its capabilities and services to member countries.

Having attended the forum several times, Urquiza said it had given him valuable insights into evolving threats in different parts of the world. He also stressed the importance of law enforcement capacity building for developing countries as criminal methods evolve rapidly.

As the first Interpol secretary general from the Global South, Urquiza said countries need to strengthen professional training and make better use of new technologies as criminal methods evolve rapidly.

Interpol's diversity, he added, was key to understanding different regional challenges while bringing together expertise geared toward the common goal of fighting crime.

The Interpol Global Academy Network is part of that effort. Urquiza said not all police agencies have equal access to technology, training and other resources, and that the network is aimed at bridging that gap by connecting police academies and law enforcement training institutions worldwide.

The People's Public Security University of China joined the network in 2025. Urquiza said the partnership allowed officers from other regions to benefit from the experience of Chinese law enforcement agencies and strengthen their professional capabilities.

"We are very proud of this partnership," he said.

More than 2,100 representatives from 139 countries, regions and international organizations attended this year's forum.

Andy Tsang Wai-hung, chair of the forum, said its international reach and influence have continued to grow over the past five years and that it has played an increasingly important role in building consensus and promoting practical cooperation.

He described the launch of the anti-fraud alliance as one of the most significant outcomes of this year's gathering.

Tsang said nontraditional security challenges, including telecom and cyber fraud, terrorism, drug crime, tourism safety and cybersecurity, are increasingly crossing borders and interacting with one another, making dialogue and cooperation essential.

The forum also released the Global Public Security Index Report (2025-26), which expanded its research coverage from 50 countries in 2025 to 62 this year. The countries covered account for about 83 percent of the world's population, 75 percent of its land area and 87 percent of global GDP.