The International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) has revealed that thousands of dollars are flowing out of Nigeria to other parts of Africa and across the world.
The INTERPOL Vice President for Africa, Garba Umar disclosed this at the ongoing four-day training workshop for Nigerian law enforcement agencies at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Academy, Abuja.
Umar was speaking on the theme of the workshop titled: ‘Strengthening Capacity and Coordination against Financial Crimes’.
He said, “Evidence has shown that every hour, hundreds of thousands of dollars are flowing out of Nigeria to the region and across the world, laundered before it reaches the pockets of criminals to enjoy the profits of their crimes, while the hardworking and honest Nigerians pay the price of crime.
“With every successful laundering of criminal money, our country becomes more prone to crime. More drugs, more fraud, more corruption and more violence. Every time criminal money is successfully laundered, our financial institutions take an additional blow.”
Umar while declaring the workshop open, stressed the need for law enforcement agencies to participate in such workshops to be abreast of the transnational fraud schemes to stay ahead of the fraudsters.
“In essence, this Workshop will allow us to re-examine the challenges of fighting transnational crimes in the country, reassess our strategies, and reaffirm our determination and unity as a country to provide security to our citizens and by extension the global community.
He further urged the participants to discuss and learn about transnational crimes affecting their regions, while identifying possible solutions through a review of policing capabilities to support the country and facilitate direct and in-person interaction amongst law enforcement networks across the country.
“The only way we can move forward as a country is by working together and identifying common problems, jointly devising solutions, and taking coordinated and cohesive action. And now is the time that we need to go far, by going together,” he said.