AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett will address law enforcement leaders at the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Morocco, urging concerted action against illicit tobacco trafficking targeting Australia. She will also call for enhanced information sharing regarding extremist groups, including Nazi supporters, which threaten social cohesion.
Commissioner Barrett aims to foster collaboration among over 20 police chiefs from various nations, emphasizing the need to disrupt criminal networks operating offshore. In her speech, she will highlight the detrimental impact of these activities on Australia’s communities, noting that organized crime often utilizes the Pacific region as a transit point for illegal goods.
Strengthening Regional Security Measures
To bolster security efforts in Australia and the Pacific, Commissioner Barrett will reaffirm the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) financial support for INTERPOL’s Project Blue Pacific. This initiative facilitates improved information sharing among law enforcement agencies in Pacific Island nations, providing access to critical notices such as Red Notices issued by INTERPOL.
“INTERPOL is an incredibly important strand in our national security framework,” Commissioner Barrett stated. “It ensures the AFP is connected to the world, which is being tested by grey zone warfare and outright aggression.”
During her discussions, she will request that police chiefs from the Middle East and Asia intensify their efforts to combat illicit tobacco trafficking. She believes that the organized crime networks benefiting from this trade are also involved in other illegal activities, further complicating the landscape of crime in Australia.
Collaborative Initiatives and Community Safety
The Commissioner will emphasize the importance of bilateral meetings and sideline exchanges at the assembly, aiming to strengthen partnerships in addressing transnational crime. “Under my Commissionership, the AFP will supercharge our work offshore,” she declared, highlighting the agency’s presence in over 30 countries, which enhances its operational capabilities.
In addition, Commissioner Barrett will seek to enhance intelligence-sharing regarding hate groups, stressing that safeguarding Australia’s social fabric is a priority. “We will disrupt and act against offenders who damage our social fabric and create hatred, division, and violence targeted at marginalized communities,” she affirmed.
Australia’s ongoing demand for illicit commodities is creating significant pressure on local communities, with organized crime exploiting the Pacific to fulfill this appetite. The AFP is committed to working alongside Pacific police organizations to combat this issue, ensuring they have access to international databases to identify and apprehend criminals.
Commissioner Barrett is set to participate in a panel discussion on women in policing alongside leaders from Europol and other international law enforcement agencies. The AFP will also formalize collaborations through Memorandums of Understanding with the Maldives Police Service, UK National Crime Authority, Netherlands Police, and Sri Lanka Police.
In her remarks, she will address the need to protect vulnerable communities, particularly children, from online crime networks. The AFP is actively targeting issues such as sextortion, radicalization, and online child exploitation. Australia is noted as the third highest contributor of INTERPOL Green Notices, primarily related to convicted child sex offenders.
As part of the four-day program, the AFP will support the Republic of Korea in its initiatives to eradicate transnational scam operations. The agency will also continue joint efforts with Italy and other partners to trial Silver Notices, aimed at tracing and recovering criminal assets globally. Since October 2025, the AFP, in conjunction with INTERPOL, has assessed 119 Silver Notices from 28 countries, identifying over $55 million in assets linked to criminal transactions.
The Australian INTERPOL National Central Bureau, operated by the AFP in Canberra, plays a pivotal role in facilitating these international efforts. As Commissioner Barrett prepares for her engagements at the INTERPOL General Assembly, her focus remains on creating a safer environment for all Australians and their Pacific neighbours.
