In addition to mutual dispatching of investigators, and participating in international meetings for the exchange of information on international investigation cooperation, the police promote technical assistance on drug investigation instruction and other matters for concerned nations.

### a. Hosting Asia-Pacific Operational Drug Enforcement Conferences

With the objectives of discussing and studying drug control and investigation cooperation in the whole Asia-Pacific region and working toward the transfer of investigation technology for drug-related crimes possessed by Japan, the NPA hosts Asia-Pacific Operational Drug Enforcement Conferences, and is working to strengthen the sharing of information on drug control among relevant nations as well as drug trade information networks. Since 1995 these conferences have been held nearly every year. In February 2010, 33 countries and regions and 2 international organizations (including observers) participated in the 15 $ ^{th} $ Asia-Pacific Operational Drug Enforcement Conference in Tokyo.

### b. Joint Hosting of Drug Control Seminars

Together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the NPA invites the heads of agencies in charge of drug control in countries and regions in which the issue is a serious problem, and holds seminars for the exchange of information on drug control and in order to transfer Japanese investigation technology. These seminars have been held every year since 1962. Between September and October 2009, leading members from 15 countries and regions (including observers) in Asia and South America were invited to Japan.

### c. Assistance for Improvement of Drug Law Enforcement in Thailand and Neighboring Countries

Together with JICA, the NPA dispatched drug analysis and control experts to support drug control and the improvement of analytical techniques for drug investigations in Thailand and the entire Indochina region. Phase 1 of this project took place between June 2002 and June 2005, and Phase 2 took place between September 2006 and March 2009.

### d. Participation in Various International Meetings

In March 2009, the NPA participated in the 52nd UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Australia and meetings of heads of drug control agencies held by Indonesia in October. The NPA is working to strengthen information exchange on the international drug trade and international cooperation for drug control.

## 2 ) Measures against Firearms

Japan signed the Firearms Protocol in December 2002 $ ^{1} $ . It is expected that by doing so it will become easier to track the illegal international trade of firearms.

The NPA is actively exchanging information with concerned foreign institutions on this issue via the ICPO and other institutions, and is also strengthening its relationships with these foreign-related institutions by dispatching personnel.

Note 1: One of three protocols advanced by the United Nations against international criminal organizations. In addition to declaring the illegal manufacturing of firearms and explosives a crime, it calls for the establishment of systems to mark and register firearms and establishes a cooperative arrangement between legal institutions on the issue (52 countries have signed the Protocol as of May 2010, and 80 countries have ratified it).

## (7) Responses to Cybercrimes

## 1 ) International Investigation Cooperation

Cybercrimes are easily perpetrated over national borders, making it an issue that cannot be solved through the initiatives of one country alone. For this reason, based on the principles and action plan to fight hi-tech crime established by a G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministers' Meeting in December 1997, in October 2009, 24-hour contact points were set up to act as liaisons among 57 countries and regions on international cybercrime. These contact points are playing a major role in international investigations on the issue.

The NPA has established a 24-hour contact point. The NPA is easing procedures for cases requiring an international response and actively carrying out bilateral information exchanges, thereby forwarding international investigation cooperation related to cybercrime control.

## 2 ) International Linkages to Fight Illegal Information on the Internet

Illegal information is not just hosted domestically but also on foreign web servers. In March 2007, Japan joined INHOPE $ ^{1} $ , a hotline to connect each worldwide Internet hotline center $ ^{2} $ (Refer to P.14, 66) and is making requests for the removal of such information through the organization.

Japan’s Internet hotline center has made 664