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Cleo Smith search: International law enforcement on standby to help with search

Daryna ZadvirnaThe West Australian
WA Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch.
Camera IconWA Deputy Police Commissioner Col Blanch. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

WA Police are open to engaging international law enforcement in helping them find Cleo Smith.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol are among the agencies that may be on standby to get to the bottom of the four-year-old’s suspected abduction, The West Australian understands.

Police confirmed an alert had been issued for Cleo across the country but Acting Police Commissioner Col Blanch said on Thursday international help was also available.

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“We’ve had many, many people call in already,” he said.

“We'll continue to receive help from any agency that wants to help us.”

It is not uncommon for global law enforcement agencies to be involved in abduction cases.

The FBI has jurisdiction to investigate any reported mysterious disappearance or kidnapping involving a child. The US agency has also helped WA Police before.

Earlier this year they stepped in during the investigation of the murder of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin.

The FBI provided Taskforce Ravello detectives with key lines of inquiry to establish the type of gun and ammunition used to kill the gang chief.

Meanwhile, Interpol — whose international headquarters is in France — usually issues “yellow notices” to help locate missing persons and most often minors.

Such an alert has not been issued for Cleo’s case yet.

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