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Esteemed  Delegates,  

  Welcome   to   Fort   Myers   High   School’s   second   annual   in-­‐house   conference!  This  year’s  crisis  committee  will  follow  Interpol  on  its  mission  to  stop  the  notorious  international  organization  of  diamond  thieves,  the  Pink  Panthers.  Unlike  the  United  Nations,   Interpol   is   not   primarily   concerned   with   diplomacy   and   international  consensus   building,   but  with   law   enforcement—taking   action.   Interpol   thus   lends  itself  well  to  a  productive  and  exciting  crisis  scenario.  

  For   those   of   you   who   have   not   participated   in   a   crisis   debate   before,   you  should   expect   a   different   debate   experience   in   this   committee   than   in   traditional  Model   UN.     Firstly,   delegates   will   not   represent   national   governments.   Instead,  delegates  will  represent  the  directors  of  law  enforcement  agencies  like  the  FBI  and  Europol.  This  reflects  Interpol’s  more  specific  focus  than  other  committees  and  gives  delegates  more  power  to  take  action  individually.  

Secondly,   resolution   papers,   which   in   a   traditional   committee   are   written,  debated,   and   drafted   over   the   course   of   days,   are   not   used   in   crisis   committees.  Instead,   delegates   have   two   primary   tools   with   which   to   respond   to   the   crisis:  communiqués   and   directives.   Communiqués   are   sent   to   another   organization   to  receive   information,   make   requests,   or   provide   explanations.   They   may   be   sent  individually  (as  when  a  delegate  asks  their  home  government   if  a  certain  action   is  possible)  or  by  the  committee  as  a  whole  (as  press  releases,  for  example).    

Directives   are   orders   to   carry   out   a   certain   course   of   action.   Like  communiqués,  they  may  be  sent  individually  or  as  a  committee.  Individual  delegates  have   the   power   to   direct   the   agencies   they   represent   to   take   action   without  consulting   the   rest   of   the   committee.  However,   for   Interpol   itself   to   take   action,   a  group  directive  will  be  necessary.  Unlike  resolution  papers,  directives  are  short  and  have   a   specific,   short-­‐term   focus   (such   as   the   execution   of   a   single  mission).   This  allows  the  committee  to  respond  quickly  to  events  as  they  unfold.  

Thirdly,  in  line  with  the  decreased  emphasis  on  formal  debate  in  a  crisis,  the  committee   will   not   have   a   speaker’s   list.   Instead,   committee   will   fall   back   on   a  permanent   moderated   caucus   (with   speaking   time   determined   by   a   vote   at   the  beginning)  that  lasts  until  another  motion  is  made.  

The  officers   at   Fort  Myers  High  School  have  put   a   lot   of   effort   into  making  this  a  fun  and  exciting  crisis  committee.  I  speak  for  all  of  us  when  I  say,  have  fun!  

Sincerely,  Blaine  Talbut,    Crisis  Director  

 

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INTERPOL

Committee  Background       The   International  Criminal  Police  Organization   (ICPO,   commonly  known  by  

its   telegraphic  address,   Interpol)   is   an   intergovernmental  organization   that   serves  

to   coordinate   the   efforts   of   national   police   organizations   in   carrying   out  

international   law   enforcement.   Interpol   focuses   primarily   on   organized   crime,  

white-­‐collar   crime,   and   terrorism.  However,   Interpol’s   constitution   forbids   it   from  

“any  intervention  or  activities  of  a  political,  military,  religious  or  racial  character.”  

  Interpol   operates   a   number   of   crime   databases   to   facilitate   information  

sharing   between   agencies,   making   information   such   as   criminal   histories,  

fingerprints,   and  DNA  available   internationally.   Interpol  offices  also   frequently  act  

as   liaisons   between   different   national   agencies,   helping   to   ease   bureaucratic  

difficulties.   However,   in   times   of   emergency   or   crisis,   Interpol   can   and   does  

intervene  more  directly.   Interpol  can  organize   incident  response   teams   to  provide  

expertise   and   technological   resources,   such   as   database   access   and   GIS,   to   local  

authorities.  Furthermore,  Interpol  can  deploy  central  command  and  logistics  teams  

to  coordinate  law  enforcement  efforts  at  the  scene  of  an  emergency,  developing  and  

implementing  investigation  and  enforcement  strategies  and  providing  leadership  to  

local   authorities.   It   is   through   such   deployments   that   you   can   implement   your  

committee’s  plans  of  action  “on  the  ground.”    

Despite  these  capabilities,  it  is  important  to  bear  in  mind  that  Interpol  agents  

never  have  any  authority  to  themselves  make  arrests  (although  Interpol  does  issue  

arrest   warrants).   Arrests   can   only   be   made   by   local   authorities—therefore,   the  

representatives   of   individual   law   enforcement   agencies   will   have   a   great   deal   of  

responsibility  to  carry  out  enforcement  actions  as  the  crisis  unfolds.  

 

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Your   committee   will   be   a   meeting   of   the   Interpol   Emergency   Action  

committee,  consisting  of  representatives  from  global  law  enforcement  agencies,  for  

the   purpose   of   developing   enforcement   strategies   to   combat   the   thieves’  

organization  known  as  the  Pink  Panthers.  

 

Committee  History       Interpol,   then   called   the   International   Criminal   Police   Commission   (ICPC),  

was   founded   in   Vienna   in   1923.   Original   membership   included   Austria,   Belgium,  

China,   Egypt,   France,   Germany,   Greece,   Hungary,   Italy,   the   Netherlands,   Poland,  

Romania,   Sweden,   Switzerland,   the   United   States,   and   Yugoslavia.   After   Nazi  

Germany  annexed  Austria  in  1938,  Interpol  fell  under  Nazi  control.  For  the  duration  

of  World  War  II,  the  ICPC’s  Executive  Committee  was  staffed  by  Nazi  officers.  

  After   the   war,   the   WWII   allies   revived   the   organization,   and   moved   the  

headquarters   to   Saint-­‐Cloud,   France.   From   there,   the   headquarters  was  moved   in  

1989  to  Lyon,  its  current  location.  

  In   1956,   the   organization’s  modern   constitution  was   enacted,   transforming  

the   ICPC   into   ICPO-­‐Interpol.   As   part   of   the   new   constitution,   a   system   for   the  

collection  dues  from  member  states  was  implemented,  enabling  Interpol  to  achieve  

financial  autonomy  from  its  host  nation.  

In   1998,   the   Interpol   Criminal   Information   System   (ICIS)   was   launched,  

enabling  rapid  information  sharing  between  national  agencies.  Since  2003,  Interpol  

has   operated   a   Command   and   Co-­‐ordination   Centre   at   the   General   Secretariat   in  

Lyon,  enabling  the  organization  to  remain  in  operation  24/7.  

Topic  Background  –  The  Pink  Panthers       In   2003,   three  men   robbed   the   flagship   store   of   the   London   jeweler   Graff,  

making  off  with  more  than  thirty  million  dollars’  worth  of  diamonds.  It  was  the  most  

 

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expensive   jewel   heist   in   British   history.   Investigating   the   robbery,   London   police  

discovered   an   accomplice   of   the   thieves   who   had   attempted   to   smuggle   out   a  

diamond  worth  seven  hundred  fifty  thousand  dollars  hidden  in  a  tub  of  face  cream.  

Because  of  the  scale  of  the  crime  and  the  use  of  a  similar  dodge  in  the  Peter  Sellers  

films,  British  tabloids  took  to  calling  the  diamond  thieves  “the  Pink  Panthers.”  

  Since  2003,  the  Pink  Panthers  have  stolen  a  total  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  billion  

dollars   in   diamonds   in   twenty   different   countries.   They   are  well   known   for   their  

elaborate  and  audacious  heists.  For  example,  in  2005,  they  robbed  a  French  jewelry  

store  while  wearing   bright   floral   t-­‐shirts   and  make   their   escape   in   speedboats.   In  

2008,   they   robbed   a   jewelry   store   in   an   indoor   Dubai   mall   by   driving   a   pair   of  

limousines   through   its   front  window.   In   addition   to   their   daring   nature,   the   Pink  

Panthers’  heists  are  often  characterized  by  careful  attention  to  detail.  For  example,  

before   a   robbery  of   a   French   jewelry   store,   the   thieves   covered   the  nearby  bench  

with  a  wet  coat  of  paint  to  ensure  that  no  one  would  be  sitting  there  to  witness  the  

burglary.  

  Several  high-­‐ranking  members  of  the  Pink  Panthers  are  believed  by  Interpol  

to  live  in  Montenegro  and  Serbia.  There  is  evidence  that  some  prominent  members  

of  the  Pink  Panthers  are  former  soldiers  from  Balkan  nations.  Estimates  vary  on  the  

number  of  members  the  organization  has—Interpol  has  stated  that  there  are  likely  

to  be  hundreds  of  members,  but  other  investigators  have  speculated  that  the  group  

has   only   about   fifty   core   members.   Extremely   little   is   known   about   the   group’s  

internal  organization.  However,  it  is  believed  that  their  proceeds  are  hidden  through  

a   combination   of   bribes   to   Balkan   government   officials   and   laundering   in   cafés,  

restaurants,  and  real  estate.  

While  a  handful  of  less-­‐important  thieves  have  been  arrested  in  Europe  and  

elsewhere,  by  far  the  most  significant  arrest  was  that  of  the  Serbian  Dragan  Mikić  in  

2003.  Two  years  later,  Mikić  escaped  from  a  high-­‐security  prison  in  France  with  the  

help   of   two   men   in   a   white   van   who   raised   ladders   to   his   prison   cell   and   fired  

 

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Kalashnikovs   at   the   guards.   Mikić   is   believed   to   be   a   senior  member   of   the   pink  

panthers,  and  is  currently  on  Interpol’s  list  of  wanted  criminals.  

Interpol  has  partnered  with  national  law  enforcement  agencies  to  compile  a  

large   database   of   information   related   to   suspected   pink   panther   members   and  

robberies,  including  fingerprints,  DNA,  and  personal  descriptions.  

Committee  Members  

Director  of  Europol  

Europol   is   a   criminal   intelligence   agency   run   by   the   European   Union.   Its   role   is  

somewhat   comparable   to   that   of   Interpol,   facilitating   cooperation   between  

European  police  agencies.  However,  Europol  has  more  power  than  Interpol  to  direct  

officers  and  missions  within  Europe.  Europol  police  missions  in  Afghanistan,  Bosnia  

and  Herzegovina,  and  the  Palestinian  Territories  are  the  only  national  police  forces  

such  nations  have,  while  assistance  missions  operate  in  many  other  countries  both  

within  and  without  Europe.  

Director-­‐General  of  MI5  

MI5  is  the  internal  intelligence  and  security  agency  of  the  United  Kingdom.  Although  

its  primary  responsibility  is  domestic  security,  the  MI5  can  and  does  operate  abroad  

in  support  of  its  mission.  

Director-­‐General  of  La  Police  Nationale  

La  Police  Nationale  is  the  national  civilian  police  force  of  the  French  Republic.   It   is  

complemented   by   the   national   military   police   force,   the   Gendarmerie.   La   Police  

Nationale  operates  primarily  in  urban  areas,  while  the  Gendarmerie  operates  in  the  

French  countryside.  Investigating  organized  crime  such  as  that  of  the  Pink  Panthers  

is  primarily  the  responsibility  of  La  Police  Nationale.  

 

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President  of  the  Bundeskriminalamt  (BKA)  

Unlike   in   other   nations,   the   responsibility   for   law   enforcement   in   Germany   is  

constitutionally   vested   in   the   states.   Thus,   the   BKA’s   capabilities   are   limited   to  

investigating   international   crime   and   acting   on   the   request   of   German   states.  

Because   the   Pink   Panther   case   involves   the   international   community,   the   BKA   is  

responsible  for  investigating  it  within  and  outside  of  Germany.  

Comandante  General  of  the  Carabinieri    The  Carabinieri  is  the  national  military  police  of  Italy.  As  an  autonomous  unit  of  the  

Italian  military,  the  Carabinieri  has  greater  authority  than  many  other  national  law  

enforcement  agencies.  The  Carabinieri  has  organized  an  elite  unit,  the  ROS,  to  deal  

with  organized  crime,  whose  investigations  often  involve  an  international  element.  

Director  of  the  Federal  Security  Service  of  the  Russian  Federation  (FSB)  

The   FSB   is   the   Russian   domestic   security   agency,   whose   responsibilities   involve  

counter-­‐intelligence,  border  security,  and  counter-­‐terrorism.  As  the  primary  heir  to  

the  Soviet-­‐era  Committee  of  State  Security  (KGB),  the  FSB  has  historically  played  a  

strong   role   internationally,   particularly   with   respect   to   organized   crime   and  

terrorism.  However,  with   that   inheritance  come   frequent  allegations  of  corruption  

and  human  rights  abuse.  

President  of  the  Bundeskriminalamt  (.BK)  

Not  to  be  confused  with  the  German  BKA  (whose  unabbreviated  name  is  identical),  

the  .BK  was  founded  both  to  centralize  national  law  enforcement  capabilities  in  the  

Republic   of   Austria   and   to   investigate   international   crime   affected   Austria.   It   is  

structurally   distinct   from   the   civilian   police   force   of   Austria,   primarily   concerned  

with  day-­‐to-­‐day  enforcement  of   the   laws.  The   .BK  plays  a  more  specialized  role   in  

dealing  with  national,  international,  and  organized  crime.  

 

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Director  of  the  Federal  Office  of  Police  (Fedpol)  

Fedpol   is   an  office  of   Switzerland’s  Federal  Department  of   Justice   and  Police.   Law  

enforcement   is   primarily   the   responsibility   of   cantons   (regional   administrative  

units)   in  Switzerland,  and  Fedpol’s   role   is   to  coordinate   the  cantonal  police   forces  

both  with  each  other  when  investigating  federal  offenses  and  with  foreign  agencies  

when   investigating   international   crime.   Furthermore,   Fedpol   administers  

Switzerland’s  internal  intelligence  agency,  the  DAP.  

Director  of  the  Serbian  Police  

The   Serbian   Police   are   administered   by   the   General   Police   Directorate,   itself  

subservient  to  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior.  It  is  responsible  for  directing  all  local  and  

national   police   investigations.   Despite   having   one   of   the   most   well-­‐functioning  

police  departments   in   the  region,  with  over  25,000  officers,   the  Serbian  Police  are  

marred  by  continual  allegations  of  corruption.  

Director  of  the  Montenegrin  Police  Administration  

The   Montenegrin   Police   Administration   is   an   agency   administered   by   the  

Montenegrin  Ministry  of  Interior  and  Public  Administration.  The  Montenegrin  Police  

Administration   employs   8,000   officers.   Governmental   stability   in   Montenegro  

remains  a  serious  concern,  and  the  police  play  a  vital  role  in  maintaining  it;   in  this  

effort  they  have  assisted  by  an  Organization  for  Security  and  Co-­‐operation  in  Europe  

(OSCE)  mission  since  2006.  

Director  of  the  Albanian  State  Police  

The   Albanian   Police   is   the   national   intelligence   and   law   enforcement   agency   of  

Albania,  administered  by  the  Ministry  of  Interior  Affairs.  While  historically  marred  

by   corruption   and   inefficacy,   a   modernization   effort   begun   in   the   1990s   and  

continuing   to   this   day   has   begun   to   ease   these   concerns.   The   modern   Albanian  

Police   are   regarded   as   better   equipped,   better   funded,   and   more   trustworthy.  

 

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Assisting   them   in   further   modernization   efforts   is   a   Europol   mission,   the   Police  

Assistance  Mission  of  the  European  Community  to  Albania  (PAMECA).  

Director  of  the  Kosovo  Police  

The   Kosovo   Police   is   the   national   law   enforcement   agency   of   Kosovo.   After   the  

resolution  of  the  Kosovo  War  and  the  withdrawal  of  Yugoslav  troops  from  Kosovo,  

the  United  Nations  Interim  Administration  Mission  in  Kosovo  (UNMIK)  carried  out  

law  enforcement   in   the  country.  UNMIK  created   the  Kosovo  Police  and  assisted   in  

their  development.  The  Kosovo  Police  met  their  goal  of  developing  a  force  of  7,000  

officers  in  2004.  Today,  the  Kosovo  Police  are  assisted  by  the  European  Union  Rule  

of  Law  Mission  in  Kosovo  (EULEX  KOSOVO),  the  heirs  to  the  withdrawn  UNMIK.  

Director  of  the  Federal  Bureau  of  Investigation  (FBI)  

The  FBI  is  the  national  law  enforcement  agency  of  the  United  States  of  America.  Its  

responsibilities   include   investigating   all   federal   crimes   in   the   United   States   and  

domestic   intelligence.   The   Director   of   the   FBI   has   a   formidable   international  

intelligence   resource   in   the   CIA,   with  which   the   FBI   is   closely   aligned—however,  

cooperation  between  the  FBI  and  CIA  is  often  shaky.  

Lieutenant  General  of  the  Dubai  Police  Force  

The  Dubai  Police  Force  is  the  agency  responsible  for  law  enforcement  in  the  city  of  

Dubai,  the  largest  population  center  of  the  United  Arab  Emirates.  It  is  the  only  police  

agency   under   the   jurisdiction   of   the   national   government   in   UAE;   all   other   law  

enforcement  bodies  are  administered  by   the  different  emirates.   It  employs  15,000  

officers   and   has   developed   a   reputation   for   pioneering   new   technologies,   such   as  

GIS,  which  are  used  to  combat  crime  in  one  of  the  richest  cities  in  the  world.  

 

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Director-­‐General  of  the  Qatari  Police  

The  Qatari  Police  are  the  national  law  enforcement  agency  of  Qatar.  While  Qatar  has  

a   small   population,   it   possesses   enormous   wealth   from   oil   exports   and   its  

international   outreach   efforts   are   beginning   to   attract   tourists,   providing  

opportunities   for   organized   crime.   It   is   the   responsibility   of   the   Qatari   Police   to  

combat  such  crime,  particularly  in  the  modern  capital  city  of  Doha.  

Commander  of  the  Iranian  Police  Force  

The  Iranian  Police  Force  is  the  national  law  enforcement  agency  of  Iran.  It  is  under  

the   jurisdiction   of   the   Commander-­‐in-­‐Chief   of   the   Iranian   Armed   Forces   and  

frequently  cooperates  with  the  military.  The  police  are  alleged  to  have  participated  

in  human  rights  abuses  within  Iran  both  historically  and  in  the  modern  day.  Despite  

the   Iranian   government’s   hesitations   regarding   international   cooperation,   the  

Interpol  National  Central  Bureau  in  Tehran  assists  Iranian  investigations  requiring  

international  police  cooperation.  

Director  of  the  Central  Bureau  of  Investigation  (CBI)  

The   CBI   is   the   national   law   enforcement   and   intelligence   agency   of   India.   The  

powers  and  jurisdiction  of  the  CBI  are  strictly  limited  by  governmental  acts.  The  CBI  

is   limited  to  crimes   involving  the  central  government,   large-­‐scale  organized  crime,  

or  international  crime.  In  addition  to  its  law  enforcement  capabilities,  it  has  access  

to  a  great  deal  of  international  information.  

Commissioner-­‐General  of  the  National  Police  Agency  (NPA)  

The  NPA  is  the  central  coordinating  agency  of  the  Japanese  police  system.  The  NPA  

does  not  employ  any  officers  of   its  own.  Instead,   it   facilitates  cooperation  between  

local  police  forces.  However,  in  the  case  of  national  disasters  or  large-­‐scale  criminal  

activity,   the  NPA  has   the  authority   to   take  emergency  action.   It   is  also  responsible  

for  coordinating  police  efforts  to  combat  international  crime.  

 

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Director  of  the  National  Intelligence  Service  (NIS)  

The  NIS  is  the  national  security,  intelligence,  and  law  enforcement  agency  of  South  

Korea.   Its   historically   broad   powers   allowed   it   to   intervene   in   the   military   and  

civilian  politics   to   an  unprecedented  degree,   developing   for   itself   a   reputation   for  

authoritarianism.   However,   recent   democratic   reforms   have   curbed   the   NIS’s  

power.  Nevertheless,   it   retains  a   resistance   to   transparency  and   the  authority  and  

autonomy  to  take  dramatic  action  against  crime,  as  well  as   formidable   intelligence  

resources.  

Commissioner  of  the  Hong  Kong  Police  Force  

The   Hong   Kong   Police   Force   is   the   law   enforcement   agency   administered   by   the  

Special  Administrative  Region  of  Hong  Kong.  It  is  largely  independent  from  central  

Chinese  government  authority,  in  keeping  with  the  autonomy  of  the  Chinese  SARs.  It  

employs  40,000  officers,   including  a  substantial  marine  division,  giving  Hong  Kong  

the  second-­‐highest  citizen–police  officer  ratio  in  the  world.  This  agency  investigates  

crime  in  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most  intenrational  cities  in  the  world.  

Research  Questions  

1. How   does   your   agency   handle   requests   for   cooperation   and   information  

sharing  between  law  enforcement  agencies,  including  extradition?  

2. Have  the  Pink  Panthers  staged  any  jewel  heists  within  your  nation?  How  has  

your  law  enforcement  agency  responded?  

3. Are   there   any   groups   or   organizations   within   your   country   with   possible  

links  to  organized  crime  in  the  Balkans?  

 

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4. What   possible   ties   might   the   Pink   Panthers   have   to   other   legal   or   illegal  

groups  or  organizations,  including  businesses  or  governments?