Why in the News?
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has issued a Silver Notice to trace and recover criminal assets, marking the first expansion of its color-coded notices to specifically target the finances of organized crime networks.
What is Silver Notice?
- It is an INTERPOL initiative aimed at tracing, locating, and recovering criminal assets linked to crimes such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental offenses.
- Objective: It targets assets like properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses that are connected to criminal activities.
- It was launched in 2023 as part of a pilot phase involving 52 countries, and this phase will run until November 2025.
- How does it work?
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- Member countries can request INTERPOL to issue a Silver Notice for assistance in gathering information about criminal assets.
- The Notice is shared globally with all 196 INTERPOL member countries, while Diffusions can be directed to specific countries for more targeted cooperation.
- All Silver Notices and Diffusions are reviewed by INTERPOL’s General Secretariat to ensure compliance with its rules, including prohibitions on political misuse as outlined in Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution.
- The first-ever Silver Notice was requested by Italy to trace assets linked to a senior mafia member, showcasing its potential to combat organized crime.
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About INTERPOL
| Structural Mandate and Implementation |
- Establishment: Founded in 1923 in Vienna, now headquartered in Lyon, France, with 195 member countries.
- Mandate: Supports cross-border police cooperation, helping agencies combat international crime.
- India became a member of INTERPOL in June 1956.
Structural Mandate:
- Secretary General: Oversees daily operations.
- General Secretariat (Lyon): Manages global databases and police communication systems.
- Global Complex for Innovation (Singapore): Research, training, and cybercrime initiatives.
- Regional Bureaus: Satellite offices worldwide.
- National Central Bureaus (NCBs): Each member country, such as India’s CBI, serves as its national focal point for INTERPOL.
- I-24/7 Service: A secure global police communication system enabling real-time sharing of urgent and sensitive information.
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| Powers and Functions |
- Data Sharing: Manages 19 police databases on crimes and criminals, accessible in real-time by member countries.
- Notices and Diffusions: Issues color-coded notices (e.g., Red, Yellow, Blue, Silver) to locate fugitives, missing persons, or criminal assets; not legally binding but widely used by law enforcement.
Operational Support:
– Investigative Assistance: Provides forensics, analysis, and fugitive-tracking support.
– Coordination: Enables law enforcement agencies to handle transnational crime efficiently. |
