Australian Embassy
Vietnam

Media release - 12/11/2015

Vietnamese Police Unite to Combat People Smuggling and Human Trafficking

 

Twenty six police officers from Hanoi and Vietnam’s provinces are meeting in the capital city for the 39th Asia Region Law Enforcement Management Program (ARLEMP) to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to combat people smuggling and human trafficking in the region.

ARLEMP is a long-term partnership between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security through the General Department of Police (GDP), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and RMIT International University in Vietnam. Originating in 2005, ARLEMP has become a flag-ship program for emerging Police managers and leaders in both Vietnam and the region. Over 750 Police have graduated from the course since its inception and are working together to combat transnational crimes in our region.

ARLEMP is an innovative three-week training program, which builds police cooperation to address cross-border crimes such as drug trafficking, money laundering, cyber-crime, people smuggling and human trafficking.

“People smugglers and human traffickers exploit conditions, turning human suffering into a lucrative financial business. In doing so, they also exploit by any means governance vulnerabilities, to work around domestic and international law,” said Australian Ambassador, HE Mr Hugh Borrowman.

The Ambassador added that through the outcomes of ARLEMP, participants “can realistically challenge those that engage in crime and harm our societies”.

The course, which is being held from 10th – 27th November, is usually conducted in the English language, however, this time will be presented in Vietnamese to maximise the opportunities for Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security.

“I am delighted to know that ARLEMP 39 is the 9th course especially designed for Vietnamese Police officers,” said Major General Nguyen Phong Hoa, Deputy Director of the General Department of Police.

“ARLEMP 39 will be a great platform for the participants to share experience, learn from each other for better practice in prevention and suppression of people smuggling and its affiliated crime types,” the Deputy Director added.

ARLEMP graduates are achieving much success in the international law enforcement field. Several have been appointed to international roles such as Police Liaison Officers with the United Nations and other leading international taskforces addressing transnational crime. Through their coordinated efforts ARLEMP graduates are collaborating to combat serious organised crime including money laundering, people smuggling and human trafficking.
Since its inception in 2005 over 200 Vietnamese law enforcement officers have graduated from the program joining another 550 law enforcement officials from 25 countries in South and South East Asia

Media contact: Ms. Ha Pham, Tel+84 4 37740204, e-mail: [email protected]