LYON, France (AP) Interpol is introducing a new tool named the "Silver Notice" to assist police agencies in tracking down hidden criminal assets, and an Italian crime boss has already experienced its effects. This initiative allows Interpol's 196 member countries to collaborate and inform each other in their pursuit of cash, cryptocurrency, vehicles, real estate, and other types of illicit wealth that criminals often conceal.
According to Interpol, criminals typically manage to retain around 99% of their illegal gains. The newly developed alert system, which began trialing in January 2025, is designed to simplify the process for police to trace and seize a greater portion of these assets. Nicholas Court, the director of task force coordination at Interpol, stated that 82 participating countries have already uncovered assets valued at approximately €36 million ($41 million) through the use of the tool.
Court expressed hope that this figure of €36 million will significantly increase over time, emphasizing the goal of diminishing the financial power of criminals by providing member countries with better means to locate their illicit wealth. The Silver Notice facilitates enhanced cooperation among police forces to ensure that recovered illicit funds can be returned to the rightful countries.
In practical terms, the Silver Notice enables law enforcement officials searching for criminal assets to communicate globally, indicating, "This person, this criminal, is worth this amount of money, and we want to know where their assets are." This collaborative approach encourages countries to assist one another in identifying and responding to requests regarding criminals' hidden resources, including cash, vehicles, properties, and even livestock.
The first Silver Notice issued by Interpol was distributed in January 2024, following a request from Italy, which sought information on assets owned by a senior mafia member. Italian authorities were aware that the individual had a significant amount of wealth, most of which was located outside of Italy. Consequently, they disseminated a Silver Notice to all Interpol member nations. Within a matter of days, Brazil responded to this call.
Brazil conducted searches within their databases and successfully identified various assets linked to the criminal, including properties, apartments, and livestock. As a result of this collaboration, Brazil and Italy are now engaged in discussions aimed at repatriating these assets back to Italy.
Member nations are expected to formally approve the full implementation of the Silver Notice tool at Interpol's upcoming general assembly, which is set to convene in Hong Kong this November. This marks a significant advancement in Interpol's efforts to combat crime and enhance international cooperation.
The Silver Notice represents the first new addition to Interpol's color-coded alert system in over two decades, following the well-known "Red Notice," which is utilized by member nations to notify each other about individuals wanted for serious crimes. The introduction of the Silver Notice underscores Interpol's commitment to adapting to the evolving landscape of organized crime and the necessity for enhanced collaboration among policing agencies worldwide.
