HANOI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is working with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) to strengthen capacity in preventing and countering the growing threat of organized crime, the Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported Wednesday.

    At the meeting in Vientiane to present the UNICRI's mandate and activities as well as its forthcoming engagements in Laos, the two sides discussed on the opening an office and training center in Vientiane.

    The cooperation efforts with UNICRI would help Laos improve legal assistance, laws, prosecutors, judges and law enforcement to ensure a more comprehensive crime prevention system that can respond to international standards, said Lao Vice Deputy Minister of Justice Ket Kiettisack.

    Laos has experienced an alarming increase in organized crime in recent years, particularly in the trafficking of narcotics and illicit goods, calling for immediate and urgent measures, said the newspaper.

    UNICRI is a leading UN agency in training and advanced education in crime prevention and criminal justice.