Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin has urged countries in Eastern Africa to deepen their cooperation in tackling rising threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, and other emerging security issues in the region.

Speaking on Friday, June 20, 2025, during the official opening of the Regional Workshop for Heads of Crime Intelligence Units under the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO), Amin stressed that no single country could counter these modern challenges alone.

“Fighting today’s complex security threats requires us to build strong networks, share intelligence promptly, and work in unity. Criminals do not recognize borders, and neither should our cooperation,” he stated.

The Nairobi-based workshop brought together top crime intelligence officers from EAPCCO member states for a two-day session focused on refining cross-border strategies and improving intelligence coordination.

Amin cited recent joint operations that successfully disrupted smuggling and trafficking syndicates, describing them as proof of the effectiveness of collaborative security work.

“These successful operations demonstrate the strength of timely intelligence exchange. We must now ensure this collaboration becomes standard practice, not a one-off effort,” he said.

He also commended the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa and the EAPCCO Secretariat for their consistent support in advancing regional policing frameworks.

Among the notable attendees were Africa Apollo, Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa, and Brahim Jillo, Director of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau at Kenya’s DCI.

Apollo, in his remarks, reaffirmed INTERPOL’s commitment to boosting law enforcement capabilities in the region through enhanced data-sharing systems, capacity-building programs, and technological tools.

“As our region becomes more interconnected, so must our response to crime. INTERPOL remains a firm partner in supporting operational coordination and technological advancement,” he said.

EAPCCO, a regional alliance of police services across Eastern Africa, plays a central role in harmonizing policing efforts and facilitating joint crime-fighting operations.

Amin concluded by emphasizing that the workshop was more than just a response mechanism; it was part of a proactive approach to secure the region through smarter and faster intelligence action.

“We are moving beyond reaction we are preparing, anticipating, and preventing threats together,” he affirmed.