18 April 2012
South Africa and Italy are to work together in tackling international criminal syndicates following the signing of an agreement on police cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement covers cooperation in combating trafficking in transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearm trafficking, terrorism as well as crowd management and event security.
Speaking after signing the agreement with Italian Interior Minister Annamaria Cancellieri in Cape Town on Tuesday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said the agreement would enable law South African and Italian enforcement agencies to work together against increasingly sophisticated global syndicates.
It would also allow for the sharing of expertise and exchange of information, as well as exploration of further possible areas of cooperation.
Cancellieri said the agreement paved the way for intensified collaboration in the fight against “cybercrime, organised transnational criminality, illicit drug trafficking … trafficking of migrants, arms trafficking, human trafficking and terrorism”.
On the issue to terrorism, South Africa and Italy agreed to cooperate in preventing and suppressing terrorist acts in accordance with each country’s domestic law and international obligations.
Both ministers agreed that the cooperation would include an ongoing exchange of information on crime and criminal organisations, as well as information relating to specialised anti-crime techniques and training.
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele and Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Schioppa were also present at Tuesday’s discussions.
Source: BuaNews
