The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mohamed Amin, has called for deeper collaboration among Eastern African nations to combat the growing threats of terrorism, transnational organised crime, and evolving security challenges facing the region.
Speaking on Friday, June 20, 2025, during the opening of the Regional Workshop for Heads of Crime Intelligence Units under the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO), Amin emphasised that the region’s security could only be secured through unity, intelligence sharing, and strategic partnerships.
“No country can fight modern-day security threats alone. We must strengthen our networks, trust one another, and enhance the timely sharing of intelligence to stay ahead of criminals who have no respect for borders,” Amin said.
The two-day workshop in Nairobi brought together top crime intelligence officials from EAPCCO member states.
The workshop aims to refine strategies, align efforts, and ensure the seamless exchange of intelligence across national jurisdictions.
Highlighting recent regional breakthroughs, Amin pointed to joint operations that have successfully dismantled cross-border smuggling syndicates.
“These operations underscore the power of collective action. Timely intelligence sharing has helped us prevent what could have turned into full-blown security crises,” he noted, adding that such cooperation must now be the norm, not the exception.
Beefing security
He further commended the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa and the EAPCCO Secretariat for convening the workshop and continuously fostering regional unity against crime.
“We are grateful to the INTERPOL Regional Bureau and EAPCCO Secretariat for their continued support and dedication to strengthening regional policing structures,” said the DCI boss.
Several high-ranking security officials attended the event, including Africa Apollo, Head of the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa, and Brahim Jillo, Director of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau at Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
In his remarks, Africa Apollo reaffirmed INTERPOL’s commitment to supporting regional law enforcement through technology, training, and real-time data exchange.
“Our region is interconnected in more ways than ever before, and so must our response to crime. INTERPOL is fully committed to backing the region’s efforts in capacity building and operational coordination,” Apollo said.
EAPCCO, a regional body comprising police forces from Eastern African nations, plays a pivotal role in harmonizing policing efforts, conducting joint operations, and sharing actionable intelligence among member states.
As regional instability and cross-border crimes continue to challenge national jurisdictions, Amin observed that the workshop is a crucial step toward bolstering collective resilience through smarter, faster, and coordinated intelligence work.
“We are not just reacting to crime; we are preparing, anticipating, and preventing it together,” Amin asserted.
