Leaders of ASEAN immigration departments and Heads of consular affairs divisions have pledged closer cooperation to prevent transnational crimes, including illegal immigration and human trafficking.

The pledge was made during the 19th meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (19th DGICM) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on September 9.

A man in Aceh province, Indonesia, is saved from human traffickers. Photo: VNA

The meeting discussed the irregular movement of persons and considered the possibility of establishing a special task force or heads of specialist units on counter-human trafficking, Chief of Cambodia's General Department of Immigration Sok Phal told the closing ceremony.

It agreed to enhance cooperation in border management in order to prevent irregular movements of people, illegal migration, trafficking-in-persons and labour trafficking, he added.

According to a press statement released after the meeting, the ASEAN immigration chiefs also exchanged views and shared information and best practices on border management and immigration-related matters.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: VNA