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ASEAN members discuss effective border security
Representatives of ASEAN member countries highlighted the importance of effective border security amid rapidly increasing connectivity in Asia during a regional meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday
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epresentatives of ASEAN member countries highlighted the importance of effective border security amid rapidly increasing connectivity in Asia during a regional meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.
Experts attending the conference admitted that Asia's increased connectivity would accelerate trade and overall economic growth in the region.
However, they were also concerned that the new reality would pose challenges for governments in securing their land borders and ports against non-traditional security threats, such as transnational trafficking and smuggling.
'With crime groups already generating an illicit economy exceeding US$100 billion per year, increased connectivity will require additional safeguards including the new security approaches to land borders and port management, specialized training and cross-border communication,' United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) regional representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Jeremy Douglas, said on Monday.
'[...] the value of transnational crime already exceeds the gross domestic product of several ASEAN countries. We cannot wait any longer to put in place shared mechanisms,' he added.
High-level regional integration and public security representatives from ASEAN member countries are participating in the conference, an initiative of UNODC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand.
At the conference, experts will debate integration and emerging crime challenges along with the ASEAN connectivity agenda. They include the trafficking and smuggling operations of drugs, drug-related goods, people, counterfeit products, wildlife and illegal timber.
The Thailand Foreign Affairs Ministry's director general of ASEAN affairs department, Sakkrit Srivali, said the increased integration and interconnectedness that came with the ASEAN Community could make the region more vulnerable to transnational crime.
'Strengthening skills, capacity and cross-border cooperation among border and port security agencies is therefore essential to counter rapidly evolving transnational crime challenges," Srivali said.
'When border and port security agencies have a common understanding, skill-set and approach to transnational crime challenges, the region will be able to safeguard the benefits that accompany regional integration,' said UNODC expert on border security, Matthew Nice. (ebf)(++++)
