The conclusion in November of the Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Training and Operational Workshops, co-hosted by INTERPOL and the Kenya police, is a significant milestone for INTERPOL, according to the international police body.
It marks the inclusion of Africa in a public and private sector partnership effort to combat counterfeiting and piracy on a global scale.
The event – attended by more than 150 representatives from police, customs, drug regulatory bodies, national intellectual property offices, international organizations and the private sector from 26 Eastern and Southern African countries – delivered training and prepared participants in how to lead pro-active transnational investigations against organized crime.
"The flow of counterfeit medical products and other commodities such as fake agrochemicals which destroy crops, the livelihood of farmers and poison the food chain can no longer be tolerated," said INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, Jean-Michel Louboutin. "The worldwide spread of hazardous products used everyday by often unknowing victims requires a robust and co-ordinated global response."
The launch of INTERPOL’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Programme in Africa is a an extension of existing law enforcement initiatives, deployed with the World Customs Organization (WCO), targeting criminals who manufacture and distribute counterfeit products on an industrial scale in Europe, South America, Southeast Asia
and North America.
INTERPOL and WCO-led regional cross-industry law enforcement operations resulted in police say successes against counterfeiters across South America in early 2008. Operation Mamba, the first combined INTERPOL-World Health Organization (WHO) IMPACT operation in Africa targeting over 230 outlets suspected of selling counterfeit pharmaceutical products throughout Tanzania and Uganda, took place between 29 September and 5 October 2008. More recently, Operation Storm in Southeast Asia led to a series of arrests and seized fake drugs worth millions of dollars in an operation supported by the WHO.
"At one INTERPOL OASIS meeting we were able to present to law enforcement for the entire region about the real and present dangers of counterfeit pesticides to farmers and consumers," said CropLife International Director Anti-Counterfeiting, D’Arcy Quinn, during the Training and Operational Workshops held in Kenya, in reference to INTERPOL’s Operational Assistance Services and Infrastructure Support programme.
"INTERPOL has now set the foundation for continued close co-operation between law enforcement and the crop protection industry in Africa by leading international efforts to identify and eradicate sources of this destructive crime for the benefit of all concerned," Mr Quinn added.
OASIS helps countries in Africa develop a global and integrated approach to fighting 21st century crime by enhancing the capacity of INTERPOL member countries to address crime threats nationally, regionally and globally. Eventually, the OASIS model will be spread to all of INTERPOL’s regions. The evolvement of the regional INTERPOL IPR Programme into a truly global partnership is a direct result of the collective efforts of a range of public and private sector stakeholders, including member organizations of the INTERPOL Intellectual Property Crime Action Group (IIPCAG), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC).
