In the fight against transnational crime, Customs and the police are at the forefront of maintaining global security and protecting societies, with the roles of the WCO and INTERPOL essential in this effort. As part of the continued strengthening of the partnership between the WCO and INTERPOL, WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders attended the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly, which was held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 24 to 27 November 2025.
INTERPOL and the WCO have a long-standing strategic partnership, both organizations being committed to combatting transnational crime and protecting societies. “As partners, the WCO and INTERPOL must continue to jointly disrupt illicit activity, no matter the source. Commonality of purpose supports it. Safety of society requires it.” Secretary General Saunders said during a panel discussion with prominent chiefs of police and senior law enforcement leaders.
The high-level panel discussion - Identifying and Disrupting Transnational Organized Crime: Member Country Achievements Leveraging INTERPOL Capabilities - which was moderated by Valdecy Urquiza, INTERPOL Secretary General, addressed the topics of deeper integration between customs and law enforcement networks to secure borders and global supply chains. Mr. Saunders pointed out that “criminals are becoming ever more sophisticated, creating new business models and deploying the same technology innovations to counter our efforts.” This environment makes closer cooperation between Customs and Police even more pressing.
Other speakers on the panel shared their first-hand experiences in confronting today’s most pressing criminal threats, highlighting both the challenges they face and the best practices they have developed. Their insights offered valuable perspectives on the evolving realities of frontline policing and underscored the forms of international cooperation most needed to achieve meaningful, lasting impact in the fight against organized crime.
Cooperation key in the fight against illicit trade
From the perspective of the WCO, the Secretary General emphasised that illicit trade continues to pose a significant and ongoing threat to global security, economic stability and societal well-being.
During the panel discussion, Operation Neptune, supported by the WCO, was highlighted by INTERPOL as a key example of the importance of sharing intelligence and collaborating on operational activities to combat emerging threats. Operation Calypso, launched in response to the growing threat of firearms trafficking and drug smuggling in the Caribbean and supported by INTERPOL, was also highlighted as a representative case of the importance of sharing intelligence and collaborating on operational activities to combat emerging threats.
In closing, the Secretary General emphasised the importance of deeper cooperation between the WCO and INTERPOL at the international level, as well as Customs administrations and wider law enforcement networks nationally. He noted that strengthening these partnerships is essential to enhancing border security, safeguarding global supply chains, and delivering a more coordinated and impactful response to combatting organized crime and illicit trade.
Background
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, comprising representatives from each of its member countries. It meets once a year and each session lasts around four days. Its purpose is to ensure that INTERPOL’s activities correspond to the needs of member countries. INTERPOL’s General Assembly gathers law enforcement leadership from across member countries and partner organizations to adopt major policy decisions and strengthen international police cooperation.