Korea gains Interpol backing for crackdown on cross-border crime hubs

Lee Jae-young, director general of the National Police Agency's Information Cooperation Bureau, speaks during the 93rd Interpol General Assembly in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of the National Police Agency

The 93rd Interpol General Assembly held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Wednesday (local time) adopted a resolution proposed by the Korean National Police Agency, urging coordinated global action against transnational scam centers.

The move follows mounting concerns over the rapid expansion of illicit online fraud syndicates operating out of Southeast Asia, especially within Cambodia. These sprawling, guarded compounds are known to hold thousands of individuals forced into executing sophisticated financial crimes.

A total of 126 member countries joined the vote, and 125 approved the resolution.

Recommendations for a stronger response include real-time intelligence-sharing, multinational joint operations, targeting of criminal financing and illicit assets, standardized victim rescue protocols, and global awareness campaigns for vulnerable groups such as young people and job seekers.

“Interpol is committed to supporting the resolution’s implementation and working with member countries to break these operations apart and protect the people who are most at risk,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said.

Ahead of the resolution, Korea built a close international cooperation network with law enforcement agencies worldwide.

In October, Korea launched a platform for joint action against scam compounds with Interpol, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police and eight participating countries, including the United States, Thailand and the Philippines.

In November, Korea hosted the “Breaking Chains” international crackdown operations meeting in Seoul with 16 countries, including the U.S., China and the United Kingdom, sharing intelligence on scam compound locations and suspects, and coordinating border control operations to block their movement.

Lee Jae-young, the director general of the National Police Agency’s Information Cooperation Bureau, held bilateral meetings with the Interpol president and secretary-general and delegations from seven countries, including France and Nigeria, to rally support for the resolution on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

“The adoption of this resolution reflects global support for Korea’s proposal,” said Yoo Jae-sung, acting commissioner general of the National Police Agency. “Korea will build a sustainable system of international cooperation to dismantle scam networks at their roots through close collaboration with the global community.”