EAST African Community (EAC) partner states police chiefs met in Dar es Salaam yesterday to devise a common strategy to tackle cross-border crimes in the region and enhance operational coordination.

Ramadhan Kingai, the director of criminal investigations (DCI) presided at the opening session of the 8th meeting bringing together directors of criminal investigations as well as heads of Immigration, Prisons and motor vehicles registration agencies.

Officiating at the opening session, he said that emerging peace and security threats in the region pose a threat to social, political and economic development, setting out the need to develop harmonized strategies to fight contemporary crimes in the region. 

The threats range from transnational organised crime, cross-border crimes, as well as human and drug trafficking. Communal violence and pockets of terrorist or political and security tensions were also cited.

“It is high time we come together and strengthen our peace and security infrastructures so that they can effectively and efficiently address emerging and dynamic crimes,” he said.

Kingai who represented the Inspector General of Police (IGP), pointed at the need for enhancing legal frameworks, continuous training plus capacity building for the public and law enforcement agencies, pointing at intelligence sharing as another key agenda item in the meeting. 

He stressed that what shall be adopted at the police chiefs meeting will be put to action by the Tanzania police force as its implementation will help to make the region safer and more secure for business and integration. 

Deputy Inspector General Thomas Jal Thomas of South Sudan called on member states to strengthen cross-border cooperation to counter terrorism and transnational organised crime. This is necessary for the region in order to facilitate the free movement of goods, persons, labour, services and capital, he stated.

Chairing the meeting, he stated that one among key areas of the EAC integration process is to strengthen peace and security in the region to promote good neighbourliness.

Terrorism and transnational organised crime take many forms, including organised violence, financial crimes, narcotics and human trafficking, migrant smuggling, piracy and cybercrime, he added.