Technology has contributed to cyber crime - IGP

CRIME

ENTEBBE - Chairperson for the East Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation(EAPCCO), the  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola, decried the increased crime rate which emanates from computer technology.

According to IGP Ochola, the East and Southern regions of Africa are experiencing new and sophisticated types of crime that need a cordinated and equally sophisticated approach to handle.

"Computer technology has come with a lot of advantage, but it has equally come with numerous challenges in relation to crime," noted IGP Ochola, adding that crime and forgery of documents is causing untold suffering to communities.

IGP Martin Okoth Ochola made the remarks on Thursday during a planning workshop for Operation code-named USALAMA V, at Imperial Botanical hotel, Entebbe.

The police boss also pointed out human trafficking and motor vehicle theft among the major crimes that "have taken new dimension and trend."

Ochola contended that young girls are lured abroad and literally sold into slavery.

"Stolen vehicles are moved from one country to another without any hindrance and sold to unsuspecting buyers," said Ochola.

Meanwhile, Mubita Nawa who heads INTERPOL regional bureau for Southern Africa, noted that the current criminal landscape is rapidly undergoing a transformative process each day, presenting challenges in policing transnational organised crime.

"Criminal syndicates have taken advantage of technological advancement adding another layer of complexity on their modus operandi," Mubita said.

He implored member states to carry out more intelligence work so as to arrest the kingpins involved in the sophisticated transnational crime.

"We often derive satisfaction from arrests of petty nature thus diverting our main focus of targeting criminal syndicates wrecking havoc in our region.

"We should engage our prosecutors during this planning phase and factor in their contribution as we seek finalisation of cases," urged Mubita.

Participants from over 20  member states such as Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, DRC, Seychelles, South Africa, Lesotho, South Sudan and Sudan are attending the workshop that ends Friday.

Others include Somalia, Comoros, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Zambia among others.