Interpol issued its first Silver Notice on the request made by Italy (Guardia di Finanza in Palermo), and it seeks information on the assets owned by a senior member of the mafia there.
The Silver Notice is the latest addition to Interpol’s suite of colour-coded notices and diffusions, which allow countries to share cautions and requests for information worldwide.
It is being introduced as part of a pilot phase involving 52 countries and territories, which will run at least until November 2025. India is part of the 52 countries participating in the first phase.
Officials in India said, Several wanted persons have their assets abroad, and Silver notices will help us trace them. So far, India has not made any petition for a silver notice.
Sharing uses of silver notices and diffusions, the Interpol statement said, “Member countries can request details on properties related to a person’s criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime, and other serious crimes.
It will enable locating, identifying, and gathering information about laundered assets, including properties, vehicles, financial accounts, and businesses.”
“Countries may utilise such information as a basis for bilateral engagement, including bilateral requests for seizure, impoundment, or recovery of assets, subject to national laws,” said Interpol.
Valdecy Urquiza, Interpol Secretary General, said in a statement, “Disclosing criminals and their networks of laundered profits is one of the most powerful ways to fight transnational executed crime, especially considering that 9 percent of criminal assets remain unrecovered. By aiming at their financial gains, INTERPOL is working to destroy criminal networks and reduce their harmful impact on countries worldwide.”
