LYON, France – Enhanced co-operation with INTERPOL against organized crime in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and across Southeast Europe was the focus of a visit today to INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters by the country’s Director of Police, Ljupco Todorovski (pictured).
Main topics during discussions between Mr Todorovski and INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble included the expansion across the country of access to INTERPOL’s global databases and tools beyond its National Central Bureau (NCB) in Skopje, and the international fight against drug trafficking – the Balkan drugs route is a key route for heroin trafficking across Europe.
With Mr Todorovski taking up the presidency of the Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) in August, the police chief pledged to encourage regional police chiefs to expand and standardize their use of vital INTERPOL tools such as its I-24/7 secure global police communications system, as well as its MIND/FIND technology allowing law enforcement officials at airports and seaports to instantly check passports against INTERPOL’s global database of stolen and lost travel documents (SLTD) containing information on over 20 million such documents from nearly 150 countries.
The police chief and the head of INTERPOL also both supported plans for the increased use of Skopje’s regional police training centre by police officials from INTERPOL’s NCBs across Southeast Europe. Mr Todorovski concluded his visit by inviting Mr Noble to visit FYR Macedonia later this year, a first for the head of the world police body.