VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Ministry is synergizing with the Indonesian Police's International Relations Division to use the Interpol network to crack down on illegal fishing and other related practices in the country.

"This can strengthen the synergy between the Directorate General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) and the Indonesian Police, specifically the International Relations Division," Director General of PSDKP Tb Haeru Rahayu noted in a statement here on Thursday.

Rahayu affirmed that the two institutions had already worked in close collaboration to crackdown on illegal fishing.

Interpol's I-24/7 is a global communication network known as the Interpol Global Police Communication System (IGCS) that works round the clock and seven days a week, as a medium of information-sharing among Interpol's member countries.

Through this network, the ministry can obtain the latest information on environmental crimes, including the modus of illegal fishing operations and fishing vessels placed on the international wanted list.

"Thank you for giving us access to use the network. We will use it properly to fight against illegal fishing," he stressed.

Head of the International Relations Division Insp. Gen. Johni Asadoma commended the ministry's initiative to use the Interpol network.

Transnational crimes have become the focus of cooperation in the Interpol, Asadoma remarked.

"Cases, such as illegal fishing, have become a concern for the Interpol," he stated. (antaranews)