INTERPOL chief praises China's role in combating transnational fraud

INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza has called for stronger multilateral cooperation and coordination among law enforcement agencies as fraud, cybercrime, and other forms of transnational crime grow in scale and complexity.

Speaking during the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, which ran from Sept 8 to 10, Urquiza said one defining feature of major crimes today is their increasingly transnational nature, with victims often located in one country while those behind the crimes operate from another.

He highlighted China's role in international law enforcement cooperation, describing the country as a strong supporter and partner of INTERPOL, particularly in the fight against fraud.

In recent years, China and INTERPOL have cooperated on capacity building and operations targeting fraud-related crime. Urquiza cited "Operation First Light" as one example, saying related efforts had led to the arrest of more than 11,000 suspects and the identification or seizure of more than $600 million linked to fraudulent activities.

He also welcomed the establishment of the International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud, launched during the forum with the participation of 46 countries.

Initiated by China, the alliance is designed to strengthen international coordination against cross-border telecom and cyber fraud.

Urquiza said telecom and cyber fraud have become a major priority for INTERPOL member countries. From 2024 to 2025, the use of relevant INTERPOL tools and databases by member countries increased by 55 percent, reflecting the growing scale and complexity of such crimes.

Such threats cannot be effectively tackled by any one country alone, he said, adding that countries need to pool resources, uphold multilateralism and coordinate their responses.

Urquiza said initiatives such as the new alliance are therefore particularly important because fighting online fraud requires collaboration, coordinated action, and sustained multilateral cooperation.

Urquiza also spoke highly of the Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, saying it provides an important platform for countries to exchange experience, share law enforcement practices, discuss emerging security threats, and develop joint responses.

INTERPOL has actively participated in the forum. Urquiza said the organization would take the outcomes of the discussions back to its headquarters and use them to better tailor its capabilities and services to member countries.

Having attended the forum several times, he said it had given him valuable insights into evolving threats in different parts of the world. Urquiza also stressed the importance of law enforcement capacity building for developing countries as criminal methods evolve rapidly.

As the first INTERPOL secretary general from the Global South, Urquiza said countries need to strengthen professional training and make better use of new technologies as criminal methods evolve rapidly.

INTERPOL's diversity, he added, helps it understand different regional challenges while bringing together expertise toward the common goal of fighting crime.

The INTERPOL Global Academy Network is part of that effort. Urquiza said not all police agencies have equal access to technology, training and other resources, and the network seeks to bridge that gap by connecting police academies and law enforcement training institutions worldwide.

The People's Public Security University of China joined the network last year. Urquiza said the partnership allows officers from other regions to benefit from the experience of Chinese law enforcement agencies and strengthen their professional capabilities.

"We are very proud of this partnership," he said.

More than 2,100 representatives from 139 countries, regions, and international organizations attended this year's forum.

Andy Tsang Wai-hung, chair of the forum, said its international reach and influence have continued to grow over the past five years and that it has played an increasingly important role in building consensus and promoting practical cooperation.

He described the launch of the anti-fraud alliance as one of the most significant outcomes of this year's gathering.

Tsang said nontraditional security challenges — including telecom and cyber fraud, terrorism, drug crime, tourism safety, and cybersecurity — are increasingly crossing borders and interacting with one another, making dialogue and cooperation essential.

The forum also released the 2026 Global Public Safety Index, whose research coverage expanded from 50 countries last year to 62 this year. The countries covered account for 82.73 percent of the world's population, 75.22 percent of its land area, and 87.47 percent of global GDP.

The average score among the 62 countries stood at 72.56, slightly higher than last year. The report also found more positive public perceptions of international cooperation on public security, while drug crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and risks associated with artificial intelligence remained prominent challenges.

Tsang said the forum will continue to promote policy coordination, information sharing, and joint action, while encouraging greater participation by developing countries and wider use of technology in public security governance.