Morocco shares its security expertise at Interpol VIII meeting
Abdellatif Hammouchi, head of Morocco's Directorate General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN-DGST), chaired the Kingdom's delegation during the 8th Interpol meeting for security and police chiefs from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The meeting, held from 3 to 4 September, took place in the French city of Lyon - Interpol's headquarters - and was attended by security delegations from across the region, as well as from other countries such as Comoros, Djibouti, Somalia, Mauritania and Sudan.
As highlighted by the DGSN in a statement, the meeting provided an opportunity for Morocco's national security services to share the country's experience and expertise in tackling emerging crimes at the regional level.
Likewise, the meeting also served as a platform to raise new security challenges in the area, including the fight against organised crime, illicit financial flows, internet recruitment and rapid radicalisation, as well as the risks of terrorist drone attacks.
During the meeting in France, the Moroccan delegation also made a presentation related to efforts against cybercrime, in particular in view of the growing threats posed by the misuse of new technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes.
For his part, Hammouchi took part in a bilateral meeting with Interpol's new cybercrime director, Neal Jetton, during which cooperation projects between the two sides aimed at mitigating the risks associated with the use of technology for criminal and terrorist activities were discussed.
During his visit to France, Hammouchi also visited Interpol's Command and Co-ordination Centre at the General Secretariat headquarters, where he discussed with officials mechanisms to strengthen joint co-operation in cross-border investigations and international manhunts for internationally wanted persons.
On the occasion, the Moroccan delegation also met with the security and police services of the MENA region to discuss ways and means to address security challenges and risks from a common and joint perspective.
Last May, Interpol highlighted Morocco's contribution to international security, as well as its participation in more than a dozen projects under the auspices of the international police organisation.
Interpol also highlighted Morocco's participation in some twenty major security operations around the world, as well as the country's unanimous choice to host the 93rd Interpol General Assembly in 2025 in Marrakech.
