LUANDA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Angolan Home Affairs Minister Angelo Tavares called on Thursday in Luanda the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) for the prevention and fight against cross-border crimes.

Angelo Tavares was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the SARPCCO Police Commanders Subcommittee of the SADC Inter-State Defense and Security Committee, in representation of the Angolan President, Joao Lourenco.

The official spoke on the prevention and combat of drugs and human trafficking, car theft, money laundering and cyber crimes, which have affected the economic and social development of the region.

He stated that such crimes, in addition to affecting the economic and social growth and development of the SADC region, discourage foreign investment and create a sense of instability.

For this reason, combining efforts to prevent them should be a top priority for police actions in member countries.

The official called for greater cooperation and coordination of actions amongst member states of SARPCCO, Interpol and other related organizations for the prevention of international organized crime.

Interpol Secretary-General, Jurgen Stock, expressed the agency's readiness to increasingly empower the organization's offices in Africa so as to strengthen policing networks and prevent criminals from carrying out their criminal actions.

To him, such efforts must also be supported by the political leaders of their respective countries.