Deputy Minister of Public Security Tran Quoc To recently held a meeting with Jacqueline Maguire, assistant director of the Training Division at the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in Quantico of Virginia to discuss issues relating to training and collaboration.
The meeting saw Deputy Minister To note his satisfaction with the effective co-operation recorded between the Ministry and the bureau in combating crime, law enforcement, and maintaining public order, particularly since the signing of their memorandum of understanding on transnational crime prevention back in 2019.
Since that year, the Ministry has facilitated over 300 FBI requests for criminal information exchanges related to case investigations, support for prosecution, and trial proceedings. In 2023 alone it handed over five fugitives to US law enforcement agencies. In addition, since 2021 the Ministry has assisted in freezing 17 accounts based on FBI requests, estimated to be worth more than US$600,000.
The official praised the FBI's goodwill in helping the Ministry to improve the capabilities of Vietnamese law enforcement officials and run numerous training workshops on cybercrime, money laundering, and other transnational crimes.
He therefore proposed that the two sides continue to effectively carry out the 2019 MoU and that the FBI provide adequate support for Vietnamese investigative efforts.
The public security official also called for the swift signing of treaties on mutual legal assistance, extradition, and the transfer of sentenced persons.
He suggested intensifying all-level exchanges as a means of sharing information on mutual interests and that the FBI supports the Vietnamese side with modern equipment, technology transfer, and specialised solutions serving crime prevention.
Regarding training co-operation with the FBI Academy, he asked for continued scholarships, training programmes, and capacity-building opportunities for Vietnamese officers in the US. This is along with the exchange of expertise, training materials, and the organisation of conferences and workshops on crime prevention, leadership skills, and English language training.
Deputy Minister To used the occasion to extend greetings to the FBI on its 116th anniversary (July 26, 1908 – 2024) and expressed his hope that the bureau will remain an active partner of the Ministry in maintaining security and safety for the benefit of both Vietnamese and US citizens, thus deepening and fostering the countries’ relations.
VNA