The Interpol Major Events Support Team (IMEST) assisted local authorities as part of the security infrastructure surrounding the event, preparing, coordinating and implementing security arrangements to prevent and address any terrorist threats and serious criminal offences.

The IMEST, located at a Multi Agency Command Center (MACC) and the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport, supported the Immigration and Interpol National Central Bureau officers for enhanced passenger screening and travel document examination at airports and border points, using Interpol’s global policing capabilities.

More than four million searches were conducted against Interpol’s databases during the deployment of its team, resulting in over 120 potential threats identified following ‘hits’ against its Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) and other databases containing information on internationally wanted criminals. The deployment of the IMEST was supported by Interpol’s Project Riptide, which aims to tackle foreign terrorist fighter (FTF) movement in Southeast Asia.

Fugitives arrested

Further investigative leads were also generated in a number of cases – including on more than 25 internationally wanted persons targeted by Red Notices in connection with charges including murder, fraud, bribery, firearms, drugs and crimes against children.

Notably, seven Korean fugitives, wanted under charges ranging from assault to fraud and high tech crimes, were identified as Interpol’s IMEST team checked arrival and departure data from the Manila and Cebu airports. All seven fugitives were detained and successfully extradited to the Republic of Korea where they were arrested.

A British citizen wanted for crimes against children was also flagged as he departed the Philippines for the United Kingdom and was promptly arrested on arrival.

“For police to be effective in securing major events, it is vital that they have all the information they need, at the right time and at the right place, especially at border control points. Through Interpol’s global network, the authorities in the Philippines were able to extend their national security perimeter far beyond their own border. Initiatives such as Project Riptide are paramount to empowering officials to secure their borders by making full use of Interpol’s policing capabilities,” said Hans Jürgen Pechtl of Interpol’s Operational Support and Analysis unit.

Positive facial recognition matches

The IMEST team’s work that led to the arrests also demonstrated the effectiveness of INTERPOL’s Facial Recognition System, an automated software application that matches photos of suspected criminals with the biometric data in Interpol’s global databases.

During the two-week mission, Interpol’s facial recognition specialists identified 18 positive matches when cross-checking photos of suspected criminals with the biometric data on Interpol databases.

In one case, an individual was caught attempting to leave Manila on a passport reported stolen according to Interpol’s SLTD database. An analysis by Interpol’s facial recognition software later confirmed that the individual did not match his passport photo and he was swiftly placed in police custody pending further investigation.

Throughout the Games, Interpol’s 24-hour Command and Coordination Centre, and other specialized units were on standby to provide any additional assistance required to reach out to its 194 member countries.