Interpol President in Marrakech: Morocco as a Global Bridge Against Transnational Crime
In a moment reflecting Morocco’s increasing international importance within the global security framework, the city of Marrakech witnessed a significant press conference on Friday, November 21, outlining the main points for the 93rd General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. This assembly, scheduled to take place from November 24 to 27, 2025, is expected to gather high-ranking security delegations representing the 196 member states, making it one of the key international security events of the upcoming year.
The press conference was opened by Inspector General of Police, Bouabid Sebki, the spokesman for the General Directorate of National Security, who expressed Morocco’s pride in hosting Lieutenant General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of Interpol, a prominent figure in both Arab and international security with over four decades of experience in law enforcement.
In his address, Al Raisi expressed his great happiness to be in a “country of security and peace,” noting that Morocco serves as a model for international police cooperation and active contribution within Interpol, emphasizing that transnational crime has become a collective challenge that no country can tackle alone.
The Secretary-General pointed out that the organization, which includes 196 countries, is required today to intensify joint efforts to address rapidly evolving threats, particularly in fields related to organized crime and cybersecurity.
Al Raisi presented an overview of key modernization steps taken within the organization during his presidency, including the adoption of digitalization and artificial intelligence for tracking security data and information, enhancing mechanisms for information exchange among countries, and the increase in the number of countries represented by seconded officers from 104 to over 140. He also stressed the importance of inclusivity in decision-making and developing relations with governments through more than 300 official visits from global leaders and officials.
He highlighted Morocco’s central role within the organization, recalling its strong contributions to major international operations, especially Operation NEPTUNE, which resulted in the arrest of 135 wanted individuals and the identification of 325 international fugitives, as well as the seizure of the ship carrying the ammonium nitrate used in the Beirut port explosion in 2020.
Additionally, Al Raisi praised the presence of Mohamed Dkhissi as Vice President of Interpol for Africa, considering him “an added value for regional security support.” He also underscored the significance of launching the Global Training Center in Ifrane, which positions Morocco as one of Africa’s key centers in cybersecurity.
In concluding his remarks, Al Raisi reaffirmed that the Kingdom of Morocco represents “a true bridge for cooperation between Africa, the Arab world, and Europe,” and that Marrakech hosting the 93rd assembly reflects Morocco’s advanced status within the international security system and its ability to keep pace with the rapid developments in combating transnational crime.
