Countering Wildlife Trafficking: ASEANAPOL Secretariat and Freeland Collaborate for CTOC-WT 2 Training in Hatyai, Thailand



by muhammad anas | Dec 02, 2024


The ASEANAPOL Secretariat, in partnership with Freeland, conducted the Counter Transnational Organized Crime-Wildlife Trafficking (CTOC-WT) training from November 25 to 29, 2024, in Hatyai, Thailand. This initiative aimed to address the growing issue of wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia by enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement officers in combating transnational organized crime. The ASEANAPOL delegation, under the supervision of Executive Director Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, included ACP Dr. Bakri Zainal Abidin, Director for Police Services; Superintendent Azrul Hisham Mohd Shaffei, Head of Administrative and Technical Support; DSP Suresh Subramaniam, Plans and Programmes Officer I; and Ms. Suhasini Gunasagaran, Corporal for Police Services. Representatives from the Royal Malaysia Police, headed by SAC Dato' Pahlawan Supramaniam Ramasamy, Head of International Relations, also participated alongside officials from the Wildlife Crime Bureau, NCB/INTERPOL, and other Malaysian and Thai law enforcement agencies, with a total of 30 participants from both countries.
In his opening remarks, Retired Police Major General Petcharat Sangchai, CEO of Freeland, emphasized the urgent need for a coordinated regional approach to wildlife trafficking, which poses severe ecological, economic, and security challenges. The training covered investigative techniques such as open-source intelligence gathering, digital forensics, and managing confidential informants, alongside strategies for inter-agency collaboration. It also addressed financial crimes linked to wildlife trafficking, such as money laundering. Realistic mock scenarios were integrated into the sessions, allowing participants to practice these skills in simulated environments.
A significant highlight of the event was the presentation of the Detego Tool Licence to SAC Dato' Pahlawan Supramaniam Ramasamy by Freeland. This advanced investigative tool is expected to enhance the capabilities of the Royal Malaysia Police’s Wildlife Crime Bureau. SAC Supramaniam expressed his gratitude to Freeland for their support and stressed the moral and environmental responsibility to protect wildlife from exploitation.
During the closing remarks, ACP Dr. Bakri Zainal Abidin reaffirmed ASEANAPOL’s commitment to fostering police cooperation among ASEAN member countries. He underscored the importance of tackling wildlife trafficking alongside other transnational crimes such as human trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. The training concluded with a pledge to further strengthen the partnership between ASEANAPOL and Freeland, exploring additional opportunities for collaboration. This joint effort not only equipped participants with essential skills but also reinforced ASEANAPOL’s resolve to protect the region’s biodiversity and combat transnational organized crime effectively.
"Together We Keep This Region Safe"