NCA to chair global law enforcement intelligence-sharing alliance

This is the first time since 2015 that the NCA has chaired FELEG, a global network of law enforcement agencies, and comes at a time when the threat from serious and organised crime continues to evolve.

“The societal shift to living more of our lives online continues to be exploited by criminals,” the NCA said.

“Technology is making it easier and more lucrative to commit offences across global jurisdictions, and year on year, the increases we have seen in child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and fraud are deeply concerning. Increasingly too all of these and other threats have an overseas element.

“Therefore, the need for international collaboration to tackle and disrupt the threat we face from serious and organised crime has never been as important.”

As chair for the next two years, the NCA will enhance the existing cooperation among partners, making the alliance even more operationally focused to deliver tangible results.

The evolving threat from the international ‘com networks’ will be one area where the group’s collective capabilities will be best utilised.

‘Com networks’ are a collection of sadistic and violent online gangs who are dedicated to inflicting harm and committing a range of criminal acts across multiple channels, including messaging apps, gaming platforms and other online forums.

Cybercrime, money laundering and the online sexual abuse of children will also be prioritised by the group.

Director General of the NCA, Graeme Biggar, said: “We are proud to formally take over as FELEG chair this year, and will continue to bring together the collective power of international law enforcement to do all we can to protect the people we serve.

“We have a strong track record of doing this alongside our FELEG partners, including the NCA-led global takedown of ‘Lockbit’, the highest harm ransomware-as-a-service network, and the convictions of prolific online sex offenders who exploited and abused children across the world.

“Serious and organised crime groups do not respect borders. The harm they cause is felt in communities across the world. While firearms and drug offences play out on our streets, other crime types are taking place in dark corners online, such as encrypted platforms.

“Technology – and our everyday use of it – will continue to evolve. But criminals will also seek to exploit technology in new ways, so we must work together to direct operational cooperation against the most serious organised criminals, engage tactically with a range of sectors and use our strategic power to collectively call for change to protect the people we serve.”

In addition to the NCA, FELEG is made up of domestic law enforcement agencies with an international reach, including the FBI, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Homeland Security Investigations, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the New Zealand Police. They work together to share intelligence, conduct international operations and enhance tools and techniques to tackle the most serious criminal enterprises with a global footprint.

This year the UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) has also been voted in as full members of the FELEG, a recognition that the intersection between serious and organised crime and other national security threats, including terrorism and hostile state activity, has become more pronounced globally.

CTP has acted as the FELEG’s principal advisers on counter-terrorism since 2020, and at the recent Annual Principals Meeting in San Diego, the NCA successfully proposed to FELEG partners that promoting CTP to full membership of the group would strengthen their collective response to hybrid threats such as violence fixated individuals and ‘Com networks’.

The head of CTP, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: “CTP is honoured to become the newest member of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, and we look forward to welcoming our international colleagues to the UK next year.

“So many of the threats faced by policing in the UK are also being experienced by our partners across the Five Eyes coalition, meaning our collaboration through FELEG has never been so critical.

“Together we can bring our collective experience and expertise to bear against these emerging threats, which blur the lines between serious organised crime, hostile state activity and ideological extremism.”

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has been confirmed as the new chair of the international Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG).

This is the first time since 2015 that the NCA has chaired FELEG, a global network of law enforcement agencies, and comes at a time when the threat from serious and organised crime continues to evolve.

“The societal shift to living more of our lives online continues to be exploited by criminals,” the NCA said.

“Technology is making it easier and more lucrative to commit offences across global jurisdictions, and year on year, the increases we have seen in child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and fraud are deeply concerning. Increasingly, too, all of these and other threats have an overseas element.

“Therefore, the need for international collaboration to tackle and disrupt the threat we face from serious and organised crime has never been as important.”

As chair for the next two years, the NCA will enhance the existing cooperation among partners, making the alliance even more operationally focused to deliver tangible results.

The evolving threat from the international ‘com networks’ will be one area where the group’s collective capabilities will be best utilised.

‘Com networks’ are a collection of sadistic and violent online gangs who are dedicated to inflicting harm and committing a range of criminal acts across multiple channels, including messaging apps, gaming platforms and other online forums.

Cybercrime, money laundering and the online sexual abuse of children will also be prioritised by the group.

Director General of the NCA, Graeme Biggar, said: “We are proud to formally take over as FELEG chair this year, and will continue to bring together the collective power of international law enforcement to do all we can to protect the people we serve.

“We have a strong track record of doing this alongside our FELEG partners, including the NCA-led global takedown of ‘Lockbit’, the highest harm ransomware-as-a-service network, and the convictions of prolific online sex offenders who exploited and abused children across the world.

“Serious and organised crime groups do not respect borders. The harm they cause is felt in communities across the world. While firearms and drug offences play out on our streets, other crime types are taking place in dark corners online, such as encrypted platforms.

“Technology – and our everyday use of it – will continue to evolve. But criminals will also seek to exploit technology in new ways, so we must work together to direct operational cooperation against the most serious organised criminals, engage tactically with a range of sectors and use our strategic power to collectively call for change to protect the people we serve.”

In addition to the NCA, FELEG is made up of domestic law enforcement agencies with an international reach, including the FBI, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Homeland Security Investigations, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the New Zealand Police. They work together to share intelligence, conduct international operations and enhance tools and techniques to tackle the most serious criminal enterprises with a global footprint.

This year the UK’s Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) has also been voted in as full members of the FELEG, a recognition that the intersection between serious and organised crime and other national security threats, including terrorism and hostile state activity, has become more pronounced globally.

CTP has acted as the FELEG’s principal advisers on counter-terrorism since 2020, and at the recent Annual Principals Meeting in San Diego, the NCA successfully proposed to FELEG partners that promoting CTP to full membership of the group would strengthen their collective response to hybrid threats such as violence fixated individuals and ‘Com networks’.

The head of CTP, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said: “CTP is honoured to become the newest member of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, and we look forward to welcoming our international colleagues to the UK next year.

“So many of the threats faced by policing in the UK are also being experienced by our partners across the Five Eyes coalition, meaning our collaboration through FELEG has never been so critical.

“Together we can bring our collective experience and expertise to bear against these emerging threats, which blur the lines between serious organised crime, hostile state activity and ideological extremism.”