FIIAPP is currently managing the project “AMERIPOL-EU: Strengthening international cooperation capacity in compliance with the law and legal and tax authorities.” The project has accomplished many objectives over the course of nearly three years of work, in collaboration with the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Portugal.

In the following interview, Yesid Romanos, Lieutenant Colonel of the Colombian National Police and key expert for this project, tells us about some of the objectives that have been achieved and the impact of this type of project.

1. How would you consider the progress of information exchange between the various police departments of the participating countries before and after the project?

The project has produced major breakthroughs in exchanging information, and I consider the following to be the most important aspects:

In the area of Logistics:

o   With the acquisition of teams and the implementation of Ameripol offices, these offices will have immediate access to information.
o   The identification of the fields of the platform to be implemented, which was established during various meetings with the National Unit Directors, has allowed us to all speak the same language. This is now done with reports from the National Units dedicated to this project.

In the area of Human Resources:

o   The implementation of these offices has allowed us to increase the number of civil servants through joint responsibility and, consequently, improve information exchange.
o   Adjusting the offices allowed us to identify the appropriate roles for each unit.
o   The commitment of the civil servants in Ameripol’s National Units has allowed the institution to channel information through these offices, thereby improving their response capacity.
o   The exchange of information has helped achieve substantial results in combating transnational crime, which has been publicly acknowledged by the media.

2. What would you say are the most important factors in ensuring the continuous achievement of the project objectives?

o   Ensuring the continuity of the civil servants in National Units by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
o   Learning about the results obtained during those years and creating international interest.
o   Extending a second project phase for various AMERIPOL countries.
o   Implementing the platform to input necessary data in order to obtain future results.
o   The project has allowed us to understand the joint efforts of the police, legal, and tax authorities in achieving the project’s objectives.

3. What impact does this type of EU-financed project to fight cocaine trafficking have on Latin America?

o   It demonstrates the commitment, seriousness, and results of the European Union’s projects.
o   The project’s results are tangible and easy for the police forces and their respective countries to understand. This goes beyond merely citizen security.
o   It has allowed us to understand the objective of international police cooperation and the need to expand our borders in the fight against transnational crime.
o   It ensures a reduction in the knowledge gap.
Taking the best practices of the different police, legal and tax institutions as a benchmark has allowed us to improve  police, legal and tax results.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the sole responsibility of the person who write them.