The issues of crime and violence are becoming  increasing concerns in most countries and finding solutions is creating tough challenges for governments across the globe, as the criminals and their syndicates are resorting to more technology and sophistication in executing their criminal activities.
The illicit drugs trade is one of the largest global businesses, at some US$322 billion, according to the UN World Drug Report, 2007.
It attracts criminal organisations because the potential profits are significantly more than from other criminal commodities.
US Third Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Janet Napoliano, at a recent Gulf States Police Symposium in Abu Dhabi, exhorted:
“Indeed, I would venture to say that what we have seen over the past 10 years is a major transformation in terms of the kinds of evolving threats that local police forces must now confront in their communities.
Many of you know this well, having served on the frontlines in your own cities and communities for years. Today’s threats are not the same as they were 10 years ago, or even five years ago.
Whether in the U.S., Europe, Asia or here in the Middle East, we face a threat environment where violent extremism is no longer defined or contained by international borders.
We face an environment where transnational criminal organisations are aggressively seeking to exploit gaps and vulnerabilities in our shared systems of trade, travel, and communication, while attempting to hide behind international jurisdictions.
Napoliano also noted that we face a threat environment where we have to address threats that are homegrown, those that originate abroad, and those that may be a hybrid of the two.
“As you know, in many instances, local police must now confront criminal activity that not only originates within your communities, but also sophisticated transnational global threats – whether from cybercriminals, human smuggling and trafficking organisations, terrorists, or international fugitives,” she said.
“In short, local police must deal with global issues that may very well begin thousands of miles away, but can have direct and serious consequences at home. And this, really, is a new kind of challenge for all of us.
“It compels us to work together in new and more effective ways. It means that we must build and sustain new tools and capabilities that empower local police to combat threats that in many cases extend well beyond established law enforcement jurisdictions.
“And it requires us to build and strengthen global partnerships so that we are able to constrain the ability of criminals and terrorists to operate within the global sphere.
“Simply put, in our increasingly interconnected world, we can’t be secure at home without strong partnerships abroad, and vice versa. This is a shared responsibility that we must address together—and we are.
“Working closely with our partners across the United States and around the world, we are taking a new approach at the Department of Homeland Security and across the U.S. government to confront this challenge.”
Just a few days ago, OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin echoed similar sentiments, that crime and violence can be stemmed when all stakeholders come together to find solutions. He made the comment in his closing address at the Third Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Public Security (MISPA) in the Americas.
However, while everyone agrees that a partnership approach to crime fighting is needed, at the same time, the rich countries should provide more assistance and support to poor countries in this regard because with limited financial, human and technological resources and having to deal with an increasing burden of social and health problems, these countries are finding it very difficult to find resources to deal with the crime problem.
Paying mere lip service to a partnership approach will not help. What is needed is tangible support to the poor and developing countries in fighting as these countries are most susceptible to the drug cartels and crime syndicates which have tremendous financial, technological and even political resources at their disposal.