The Last Stand of the Gorilla

public and the private sector, in order to combat the increas- ing complexities of transnational crime. INTERPOL has start- ed implementation of OASIS in Africa and is committed to adapting and extending the programme to meet the needs of other regions around the world. INTERPOL has had a lengthy presence in Africa, and has noted the need to provide opti- mum support to this region. While the types of crime com- mitted are common to other regions of the world – such as INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police orga- nization, with 188 member countries. Created in 1923, it fa- cilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mis- sion is to prevent or combat international crime. INTERPOL’s General Secretariat is located in Lyon, France, with six Sub-Re- gional Bureaus across the world, and Special Representatives at the United Nations in New York and the European Union in Brussels. Each member country maintains a National Central Bureau staffed by national law enforcement officers.

trafficking in drugs, human beings, weapons and vehicles – there is a pressing need to boost police resources in many African countries. The underlying principle of OASIS is that no country can be left behind. The world’s wealthy regions have a responsi- bility to help the more vulnerable ones to build their police capacity. For instance, the trafficking of wildlife products in Africa is a lucrative trade of environmental concern, often connected to other crimes and with an impact on other re- gions of the world. INTERPOL is working with countries in Africa and companies in the private sector to assess the extent of the problem and to devise plans of action. Common to all these problems is a need for tighter border security – imperative in preventing criminals travelling freely and in stemming the flow of illegal products between countries and continents. This can only be achieved if a solid global framework is in place, eliminating any weak spots that could be exploited by criminals.

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