14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime held online

Viet Nam hosted the 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime through videoconferencing from 25 to 26 November.

 

Together with the ASEAN ministers, the meeting was attended by Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing and police officers from the Myanmar Police Force, the ASEAN Secretary-General and officials.

 

The Minister for Public Security of Viet Nam delivered the opening speech, and the ASEAN Secretary-General explained the work on the AMMTC process and ASEAN frameworks.

 

During the discussion on transnational crime with ASEAN ministers, Deputy Minister Maj-Gen Soe Tint Naing said the root causes of crime in the fight against transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, that are changing in various forms in the ASEAN region, could be fought effectively with the cooperation of the members and high technology and capacity skills.

 

He continued Myanmar discussed at the 13th AMMTC meeting in 2019 to identify the underlying reasons for the problem through a multi-sectoral perspective and constructive cooperation.

 

The Deputy Minister added Myanmar is working to control narcotic drugs which are related to political issues, economic and sectors, as well as criminal gangs, and the number of drug seizures in 2019-2020 was 6.5 times higher than in previous years in Myanmar.

 

He said that the problem of terrorism is closely linked to drug trafficking; the country could achieve stability and sustainable development only when terrorism could be defeated.

 

He added Myanmar has been putting effort to promote justice and harmony between communities and also cooperating with the ASEAN community.

 

The 14th AMMTC meeting approved the areas of cooperation between TORs related to the implementation of the regional counter-terrorism action plan and the fight against human trafficking, with the joint statement of the Ministerial Meeting and the record of each nation’s discussion. The meeting also agreed to hold the 15th AMMTC in Brunei Darussalam in 2021.—MNA

 

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)