Korean National Police Agency Signs First MOU with Federal Police of Brazil to Jointly Tackle Transnational Crime and K-Wave Scams

The police have agreed to strengthen cooperation with Brazilian law enforcement to respond to transnational crime and to jointly tackle so-called K-wave scam offenses.
The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced on the 23rd that it had signed a police cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Police of Brazil and held a meeting between the heads of the two agencies with Commissioner General Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues of the Federal Police of Brazil.
This MOU is the first formal agreement concluded between the KNPA and the Federal Police of Brazil. The KNPA noted that the accord is significant because it lays the groundwork for practical investigative cooperation and information sharing to counter transnational crime with Brazil, a key country in South America.
Acting Commissioner General Jaesung Yoo of the KNPA stressed during the talks between the two police chiefs that transnational crimes such as drug trafficking and online scams pose a global threat, and that close partnership with the Federal Police of Brazil is essential.
In particular, the KNPA proposed that Brazil formally join the International Investigative Cooperation Association (IICA), an international investigative cooperation framework. It also asked for active participation by the Federal Police of Brazil in "Breaking Chains," an international joint operation led by the KNPA. In addition, the KNPA proposed to Commissioner General Andrei Augusto Passos Rodrigues, who currently serves as secretary general of the Police Community of the Americas (AMERIPOL), that the KNPA join AMERIPOL as an observer.
A KNPA official explained, "If the KNPA joins AMERIPOL, a cooperative body of police agencies from 27 Latin American countries, we expect to establish a structured cooperation channel with countries in the region and expand collaboration, including sharing advanced K-Policing practices."
The meeting also addressed the issue of so-called "K-wave scams" in Brazil, in which criminals exploit the popularity of Korean culture by impersonating Koreans or spreading false information about performances. The two agencies agreed to step up public awareness campaigns to prevent such crimes and to work together on investigations to minimize harm to citizens of both countries.
Lee Jae-young, Director General for International Affairs at the KNPA, stated, "With this memorandum of understanding and talks with the Federal Police of Brazil, we have expanded our police cooperation network to the Latin American region on the other side of the globe," adding, "We will continue to devote our full efforts to combating transnational crime and, through strategic partnerships with major law enforcement agencies around the world, protect the safety of our citizens and lead the establishment of international policing standards."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yoo-ha Reporter