LYON, France — With a string of major arrests of internationally wanted criminals, including several mafia bosses, the head of police of the Dominican Republic has been commended by the INTERPOL secretary general for his force’s commitment to global law enforcement co-operation.
During the meeting between Major General José Armando Polanco Gómez and secretary general Ronald Noble, INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Santo Domingo was highlighted as among the world police organization’s best performing, with captures including Camorra boss Ciro Mazzarella, on Italy’s top 100 wanted list, and Mafia lieutenant Mariano Martone, in addition to seven other high profile Italian fugitives wanted via INTERPOL, and most recently on 17 April, the arrest at Puerto Plata airport of a Canadian man wanted on paedophile charges.
Noble said that these successes were testimony to what can be achieved when countries work together via INTERPOL, praising NCB Rome for their actions in requesting the INTERPOL Red Notices, which made the arrests in the Dominican Republic possible.
Gómez said he was committed to ensuring that the Dominican Republic Police remained at the forefront of international law enforcement.
“The arrests of these international fugitives in the Dominican Republic clearly show that our country is no safe haven for criminals who are attempting to flee justice,” said Gómez.
“From my discussions today with the INTERPOL secretary general, with increased access to INTERPOL’s tools for our frontline officers and support from other member countries, I am certain that we will see even more successes in the future,” concluded the head of police.
Discussions included identifying ways to expand access to INTERPOL’s MIND/FIND technology, which allows law enforcement officials at airports and seaports to instantly check passports against INTERPOL’s global database of stolen and lost travel documents containing information on over 27 million such documents from nearly 160 countries.
“Although NCB Santo Domingo is already one of the top performing in the region, their drive and commitment to be even better is an example to all law enforcement,” said Noble. “We will work closely with them to identify ways in which we can help achieve this expansion and ensure that law enforcement officers across the country are trained on INTERPOL’s tools which means that they will have access to vital policing information at their fingertips.”
Noble also praised the Dominican Republic for seconding an officer to INTERPOL’s Regional Bureau in San Salvador as a “clear demonstration of their proactive approach to both national and international policing.”
During his visit to the General Secretariat, Gómez, accompanied by Head of NCB Santo Domingo Colonel Rafael Cabrera Sarita and Colonel Ney Aldrin de Jesus Bautista Almonte, was also briefed on a range of INTERPOL’s databases and activities, including its financial and high tech crime unit, drugs and anti-counterfeiting operations.
