Addis Ababa, March 8, 2023 (FBC) – The Regional Operational Center in Khartoum (ROCK) is playing an outstanding role in jointly preventing and fighting cross-border crimes, according to the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
It was stated that Ethiopia, a member of ROCK, is committed to exposing and handing over criminals who have committed international crimes.
The Regional Operational Center in Khartoum (ROCK) is holding a forum in Addis Ababa to evaluate the progress of the law enforcement project, which will be implemented from 2022 to 2025, according to ENA’s report.
ROCK is a project established under the African Union, funded by the European Union with 5 million euros, and 11 African countries, including Ethiopia, work together on cross-border crimes.
It is possible to exchange and hand over classified information about human trafficking and traffickers’ human violence against citizens, it was indicated.
The Technical Director of the ROCK, Harve’ Jamet, said that in the first round of the action plan from 2019 to 2021 more than 400 crime data were collected and analyzed and submitted to Interpol so that the necessary action can be taken.
According to the Europol report in 2017, 5.7 billion euros was smuggled by human traffickers and cross-border criminals.
He said that Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Libya, Tunisia, Uganda and Somalia have brought about a real change by jointly preventing cross-border crimes.
So far, they have collected more than 700 criminal information through ROCK and submitted it to Interpol to enable member countries to jointly defend themselves.
ROCK said that since May 2022, when the second round of the project was announced, in cooperation with Interpol and member countries, more than 2,200 victims have been freed from illegal traffickers.
Gedion Kimilu, Head of Regional Bureau and Chief Executive of EAPCCO Secretariat, stated that other member countries, including Ethiopia, are actively participating in the success of the project.
He also pointed out that Ethiopia is helping the efforts to stop the illegal activity in the region by exposing the criminals wanted by Interpol for human trafficking.
The CEO stated that the Mediterranean area is a region where human trafficking and other international crimes are committed.
The Deputy Commissioner General of Ethiopian Federal Police Criminal Investigation Bureau, Zelalem Mengstie, said that they have handed over human traffickers who have been issued arrest warrants by Interpol in Europe and other countries.
He mentioned that Ethiopia, being a member of ROCK, is committed to uncovering and handing over those who have committed international crimes and are committed to extradition.
Zelalem confirmed that Ethiopia has also requested ROCK to open a coordination office in Addis Ababa.