International Engagement 45. No country is immune from the threat posed by cybercriminals and syndicates. Even as countries fortify defences against cyber-attacks and educate their citizens to be vigilant against cybercrimes, cybercriminals continue to exploit vulnerabilities with little regard for national borders. What we do within our own borders is not enough by itself to keep Singapore and Singaporeans safe. 46. Strong international partnerships enable countries to deal with cybercrime more effectively. For example, SPF works closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to foil the actions of foreign cybercrime syndicates. In 2015, after SPF received reports of credit-for-sex scams committed by syndicates operating in the People’s Republic of China, SPF worked with Chinese law enforcement counterparts to conduct simultaneous raids, resulting in the arrest of 43 members of a syndicate. Countries need to cooperate bilaterally, regionally and internationally, to develop capacities and capabilities, and to tackle cybercrime in a concerted manner. 47. Through its international engagement efforts, Singapore will (i) foster regional and global connectivity and cooperation, (ii) build capacities and capabilities through a collaborative environment, and (iii) bring global experts and thought leaders together. (i) Fostering regional and global connectivity and cooperation 48. Singapore is at the forefront of working with foreign countries to enhance our operational cooperation against cybercrime. At the regional level, Singapore is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Voluntary Lead Shepherd on Cybercrime, responsible for charting ASEAN’s initiatives against cybercrime. With the unanimous support of ASEAN Member States, Singapore established the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) Working Group on Cybercrime in 2013. The Working Group, chaired by Singapore, provides a platform for the ASEAN Member States to coordinate the regional approach to cybercrime, and work together on capacity building, training and the sharing of information to combat cybercrime. This is also the platform through which the ASEAN Member States engage ASEAN Dialogue Partners such as the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on cybercrime collaboration. 49. At the international level, Singapore hosts the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI). The IGCI is INTERPOL’s global hub on cybercrime. Singapore has led the IGCI Working Group and INTERPOL Operational Expert Group on Cybercrime, working with other INTERPOL member countries to define INTERPOL’s cybercrime programme. Singapore’s goal is to leverage INTERPOL’s resources to build global operational networks, capacities and capabilities to tackle cybercrime, especially within Asia. 50. Today, the IGCI comprises the INTERPOL Digital Crime Centre (IDCC), which houses a Digital Forensics Lab (DFL) and a Cyber Fusion Centre (CFC). The DFL supports global law enforcement agencies by utilising the latest techniques and solutions in the forensic examination of digital devices. The CFC conducts real-time gathering and analysis of information, providing INTERPOL’s 190 member countries with actionable intelligence on cyber threats. The IDCC has coordinated several successful global operations out of Singapore, such as Operation Strikeback 1 and Strikeback 2 in the Philippines, which resulted in the arrest of a total of 66 suspects believed to be involved in National Cybercrime Action Plan 15 OF 17