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The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has introduced its first ‘Silver Notice’ to trace assets laundered across international borders.  

About Interpol

It is an international police agency that helps countries work together to prevent and fight crime. Its mission is to make the world safer by connecting police forces around the world. 

The first International Criminal Police Congress was held in 1914. The idea for Interpol was revived in 1923 by Dr. Johannes Schober, the President of the Vienna Police.

What does Interpol do?

• Research and development: Interpol studies international crime trends to help countries fight crime. 
• Share information: Interpol connects police forces through a secure communications system to share information in real time. 
• Coordinate networks: Interpol brings together police and experts to share ideas and experiences. 
• Issue notices: Interpol issues notices to help locate missing people, wanted criminals, or unidentified bodies. 
• Cross-border operations: It helps police work together even when countries don't have diplomatic relations.

What types of crimes does Interpol focus on? 

• Terrorism
• Crimes against people and property
• Economic, financial, and computer crimes
• Illegal drugs and criminal organizations

How is Interpol organized? 

• Interpol's headquarters are in Lyon, France.
• Interpol has seven regional bureaus around the world.
• Each member country has a National Central Bureau.
• The General Assembly is Interpol's supreme decision-making body.

How does INTERPOL work?

• It studies international crime and trends to help police stay ahead of criminals. 
• It provides police with high-tech tools to help them fight crime. 
• It issues notices to help locate people wanted by law enforcement or to warn about potential threats. 
• Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB), which is the point of contact for INTERPOL. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the NCB for India.
• It has regional offices in several countries and a representative office at the United Nations.

Recent Initiative

Interpol has introduced its first ‘Silver Notice’, as part of a pilot project involving 52 countries, including India. It was launched following a request from Italy to locate the assets of a mafia member.

The project will run until at least November 2025, with 500 notices available for distribution among the participating countries. It is part of Interpol's colour-coded notices and diffusions. 

What is the Silver Notice used for?

• It helps countries to locate and recover assets linked to crimes like fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental crimes. 
• It helps countries identify and locate assets like properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses. 
• It helps countries to take legal action against these assets, such as seizure or confiscation. 

How does the Silver Notice work?

• Participating countries can request information on assets linked to criminal activities. 
• The information helps countries to identify and locate the assets. 
• The assets can then be seized or confiscated depending on the national laws. 

Must Read Articles: 

NOTICES BY INTERPOL

INTERPOL GLOBAL ACADEMY NETWORK

Source: 

Business Standard