Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry has been granted observer status in the Association of American Police Forces (AMERIPOL), the ministry said Tuesday.

Axar.az reports that the ministry secured the status during the fifth Extraordinary Summit of AMERIPOL’s Board of Directors.

The ministry said the new status will help expand cooperation with law enforcement agencies of AMERIPOL member states, facilitate the exchange of information and best practices, and increase Azerbaijan’s participation in the organization’s events.

It will also contribute to developing international cooperation in combating transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, human trafficking, and other modern threats.