Crime
Interpol Issues First Silver Notice to Trace Cross-Border Illicit Wealth
Interpol has issued its first Silver Notice as part of a pilot project involving 52 countries, including India, to trace assets laundered across borders. The inaugural notice, requested by Italy, seeks information about the assets of a senior mafia member, the international police organization announced on January 10, 2025.
The Silver Notice allows participating countries to request details about assets linked to criminal activities, such as fraud, corruption, and drug trafficking. These assets may include properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses. The notice is aimed at facilitating asset tracing, recovery, and seizure under national laws, with a total of 500 notices available during the pilot phase, running until November 2025.
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India views the Silver Notice as a powerful tool to locate and recover illicit wealth stashed in tax havens. An Indian official stated, “This initiative will help trace assets criminals believed were untraceable.”
Interpol emphasized that the notices are not public and will undergo strict reviews to ensure compliance with organizational rules, including safeguards against political misuse. Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza highlighted that 99% of criminal assets remain unrecovered, adding, “By targeting financial gains, Interpol aims to disrupt criminal networks and reduce their impact worldwide.”
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The Silver Notice joins Interpol’s suite of color-coded notices, which include the Red Notice for fugitive detention and the Yellow Notice for locating missing persons. The pilot project was approved at Interpol’s 91st General Assembly in 2023, with safeguards and guidelines developed by an Expert Working Group on Asset Tracing and Recovery.
This new initiative is part of Interpol’s broader efforts to combat transnational organized crime by targeting its financial underpinnings.
