CANCUN, Mexico (AFP) - Interpol President Jesus Espigares Mira opened the crime-fighting organisation's 73rd assembly urging dozens of listening police chiefs to boost trans-national cooperation in the fight against organized crime and international terror networks.
Interpol is "an indispensible instrument for promoting and facilitating police and judicial collaboration worldwide," Espigares told delegates meeting in Cancun, Mexico.
"Interpol should not be under-utilized," he stressed.
The summit is focused on a variety of priorities including terrorism, the trafficking of drugs and people, and money laundering and financial crimes.
Interpol secretary general Ronald Noble told AFP on Monday that it was critical for Interpol, which counts 181 member states, members to increase their information sharing on all forms of criminal activity.
"Generally, we need more countries to share more information," Noble said, adding that "over 90 countries are now sharing information on their suspected terrorists."
However, he said there is a problem of trust among some members, as some police forces do not trust other countries' police forces with highly sensitive information.
Delegates are also reviewing how they might better share digital fingerprint records, among other initiatives.
The international police network also works to stop the illegal trafficking of stolen cars, the sexual abuse of children and arms trafficking.