Dubai, UAE – 13 May 2025 – During the World Police Summit 2025, ASEANAPOL reaffirmed its vital role in regional law enforcement cooperation by participating in a high-level panel session titled “Global Guardians: Strengthening Regional Security through Digital-Age Policing.” The session was moderated by Lt. Alreem Abdulrehman Abdulla of the Dubai Police and featured distinguished panellists: Grant Stevens, Commissioner of South Australia Police; Police Colonel David Martinez Vinluan, Executive Director of ASEANAPOL; Javi Oomer, Deputy Director of the UK’s National Crime Agency; and Priyantha Weerasooriya, Inspector General of Police of Sri Lanka Police.
Representing ASEANAPOL, Executive Director Vinluan highlighted the organization’s proactive approach in addressing the evolving landscape of transnational crime, intensified by rapid technological advances. He detailed how ASEANAPOL is modernizing regional security through digital cooperation, spotlighting key innovations such as the electronic-ASEANAPOL Database System (e-ADS) and the ASEANAPOL Communication and Coordination Protocol for Crisis Management (ACCPCM). Both platforms are securely hosted on INTERPOL’s I24/7 network and serve as critical tools for real-time information sharing, crisis response, and coordinated action against cybercrime, scams, and the exploitation of legitimate business infrastructures by criminals.
Executive Director Vinluan emphasized that the nature of crime today is increasingly complex and borderless, making it imperative for police organizations to strengthen coordination and collaboration at multiple levels—regional, global, and public-private partnerships. ASEANAPOL’s work exemplifies how regional police organizations can serve as hubs for interoperability, bridging gaps among diverse legal systems and operational protocols to ensure a swift, united response to emerging threats.
He further noted that police implementation of law is inherently limited by the availability of domestic laws; thus, it is crucial for member countries to translate international treaties, conventions, and agreements into their national legal frameworks. This ensures that police forces are legally empowered to effectively serve and protect their constituents within the boundaries of the law.
ASEANAPOL’s ongoing collaboration with global partners such as INTERPOL, the Gulf Cooperation Council Police (GCCPOL), the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and other regional institutions reflects a shared commitment to building a more integrated, interoperable, and future-ready policing framework. Such partnerships enhance information exchange, capacity-building, and synchronized enforcement, reinforcing the collective ability to combat cyber-enabled crimes, transnational drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, and other serious offenses.
The panel discussion also underscored the importance of ethical and transparent policing in the digital age, where safeguarding privacy and human rights must go hand-in-hand with technological innovation. ASEANAPOL remains committed to fostering trust with the public by promoting community-centered approaches and supporting the harmonization of legal frameworks across member countries to enable effective cross-border law enforcement.
Through sustained investment in technology, training, and strategic partnerships, ASEANAPOL aims to empower police agencies to stay ahead of sophisticated criminal networks. The organization’s leadership in facilitating cooperation across Southeast Asia and beyond continues to contribute significantly to regional and global security efforts.
ASEANAPOL’s active participation in the World Police Summit 2025 reaffirms its dedication to strengthening cross-border collaboration and advancing innovative, ethical, and responsive policing strategies in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.
