NEW DELHI, Jan 10: In an innovative step, Interpol has introduced its first Silver Notice aimed at tracking assets laundered across international borders, as part of a pilot initiative that includes India among its participants. This development was announced by the global organization on Friday.
In response to an inquiry from PTI, Interpol clarified that the inaugural Silver Notice was issued at the request of Italy, which is seeking details regarding the assets of a prominent mafia figure.
The Lyon-based international policing entity outlined that this pilot project includes participation from 52 member countries, including India.
Currently, Interpol operates eight different types of color-coded notices that enable member nations to request specific information globally. The Red Notice is notably used to seek the apprehension of fugitives residing in other countries.
India is currently grappling with at least 10 fugitive economic offenders, and there is no precise estimation regarding the total amount of illicit money that has been shifted offshore.
“The Silver Notice is a strategic tool that will assist India in locating the assets of criminals who have moved their illicit wealth to tax havens and other jurisdictions under the assumption that it will remain untraceable,” an informed official in India stated.
Throughout the course of the project, a total of 500 notices will be allocated, evenly distributed across participating nations, as per Interpol’s announcement.
Importantly, details regarding the notices or individuals under investigation will not be made public by Interpol.
“The Silver Notice represents the latest addition to the organization’s range of color-coded Notices and Diffusions, designed to facilitate global alerts and information requests between countries. This pilot will last at least until November 2025,” Interpol stated.
Countries can use Silver Notices to request information concerning assets connected to individuals involved in criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, and environmental crime, among other serious offenses. This information can be shared with all 196 member states or sent through targeted Silver Diffusion notices.
“This initiative will aid in the identification and tracing of laundered assets, such as properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and businesses. Such information may subsequently be utilized for bilateral cooperation, including requests for asset seizure, confiscation, or recovery in line with national regulations,” Interpol elaborated.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasized that stripping criminals of their illegal profits is crucial in combating transnational organized crime, especially given that 99% of criminal assets remain unaccounted for. “By targeting their financial gains, Interpol aims to disrupt these criminal networks and lessen their detrimental effects on global communities,” he remarked.
Each Silver Notice and Diffusion will undergo a review by the Interpol General Secretariat to ensure they comply with the organization’s guidelines prior to their release or distribution.
“This process also includes verifying that notices are not exploited for political aims, as per Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution. Extracts of Silver Notices will not be made accessible on Interpol’s website during the pilot phase,” the statement noted.
The development and rollout of the Silver Notice and Diffusion pilot were highlighted during Interpol’s 91st General Assembly in Vienna in 2023, where a resolution was passed. This resolution called upon the Expert Working Group on Asset Tracing and Recovery to collaborate with the General Secretariat in designing the pilot’s parameters, format, and protective measures.
Interpol’s Red Notice functions to locate and apprehend individuals wanted for prosecution or to complete a sentence, while the Yellow Notice assists in finding missing persons, particularly minors. The Blue Notice collects extra information regarding a person’s identity, location, or activities that are pertinent to a criminal investigation. The Black Notice is used to seek details on unidentified bodies, and the Green Notice issues warnings about individuals whose criminal activities may pose a threat to public safety.
The Orange Notice alerts about events, individuals, objects, or processes that represent a significant and immediate risk to public safety, whereas the Purple Notice shares information pertaining to the modus operandi, items, devices, and concealment techniques employed by criminals.
Finally, Interpol’s United Nations Security Council Special Notice is issued for individuals and entities identified as targets by UN Security Council Sanctions Committees. (AGENCIES)
