Cape Town – South Africa and Italy signed an agreement on police co-operation on Tuesday.
The pact provided for the two countries to work together against transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearm trafficking, and terrorism.
It was signed by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Italian Interior Minister Annamaria Cancellieri.
Mthethwa said criminal syndicates globally were becoming sophisticated.
It was hoped the agreement would enable law enforcement agencies from both countries to together „break the backbone of these syndicates“.
South Africa would spare no effort to ensure criminals failed in their acts and intentions and welcomed the agreement.
„We further outlined and agreed to enhance various ways of consolidating and exchanging working experience and information necessary to combat crime and to explore further mechanisms to co-operate and assist each other… in accordance with the domestic law… [and] international obligations,“ Mthethwa said.
Cancellieri said Italy recognised the importance of the agreement within the framework of international and European Union politics, with a view to strengthening Africa’s security and development.
The agreement intensified collaboration between the two countries in all sectors of strategic interest, including the fight against cyber crime, organised transnational crime, illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances and their precursors, trafficking of migrants, arms trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism, she said.
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/SA-Italy-sign-police-co-op-agreement-20120417-3
