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| Enhancing international cooperation against financial crime was the focus of talks between the Chief of Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, Lieutenant General Saverio Capolupo (pictured right), and INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble (left). [PHOTO: Special Arrangements] |
With Italy a destination and transit country for the
trafficking of illicit goods, meetings with Secretary General Ronald K. Noble
and other senior INTERPOL officials reviewed activities in this area and others
– such as money laundering, fraud, forgery, illegal immigration and stolen
works of art – in which the Guardia di Finanza and INTERPOL operate and share
initiatives.
“Financial crime does not stop at our borders, it is a real
threat which affects economies worldwide and requires international
information-sharing and collaboration. In this respect, the Guardia di Finanza
supports international efforts led by INTERPOL to strengthen professional
international police cooperation against financial crime, including in the area
of illicit trade and counterfeit goods,” said Lt. Gen. Saverio Capolupo.
The Guardia di Finanza is today a key partner of INTERPOL’s
Trafficking in Illicit Goods programme launched in 2012. Previously, it
provided strong support to INTERPOL’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
programme in Europe and beyond, including the provision of training and
operational resources.
“During its relationship with INTERPOL, Italy’s Guardia di
Finanza has demonstrated its leadership in international law enforcement
cooperation against financial crime, particularly in the area of training, and
it is an essential partner to INTERPOL’s vision for a safer world at a time
when globalization has seen the expansion and diversification of transnational
organized crime,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
GdF support for INTERPOL’s former IPR programme saw Italy’s
Financial Police provide expertise and logistical support to four training
events on combating transnational organized intellectual property crime held at
Italy’s Tax Police training school in Rome between 2007 and 2009 when it was
headed by Lt. Gen. Capolupo.
Since 2009, GdF officers have also been regularly involved
in INTERPOL-organized training seminars worldwide to present successful case
studies and share best practices on combating economic crime.
In 2011 and 2012, Italy’s Financial Police also played a major
role in Italy as a participating law enforcement agency in operations OPSON and
OPSON II led by INTERPOL against food-related crime. The operations led to the
seizure of tonnes of substandard foods and drinks unfit for human consumption.
General Commander Capolupo was accompanied during his visit
to INTERPOL by the Head of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Rome, Major
General Antonio Lisi, the Head of the GdF International Relations Office,
Colonel Antonio Leone, and the Head of General Affairs from the General
Commander’s Cabinet, Captain Davide Colella.