LYON, France (AP) Interpol has introduced a new initiative called the "Silver Notice," aimed at aiding law enforcement agencies across its 196 member countries in tracking and recovering hidden criminal assets. This comes in response to the persistent issue where criminals reportedly manage to keep approximately 99% of their illegal earnings. The Silver Notice serves to facilitate international cooperation in identifying and seizing various forms of illicit wealth, including cash, cryptocurrency, vehicles, real estate, and more.
The Silver Notice was trialed starting in January 2025, and so far, it has proven effective in aiding investigations. According to Nicholas Court, the Director of Task Force Coordination at Interpol, 82 countries that have tested the tool have already uncovered at least €36 million ($41 million) in criminal assets. Court expressed optimism that the amount recovered would increase as the Silver Notice gains traction globally.
The mechanism behind the Silver Notice allows law enforcement officials to communicate their findings and requests to other jurisdictions. As Court explained, it enables them to send a global alert regarding a specific criminal's alleged wealth, facilitating the search for various asset types ranging from cash to livestock. This system is designed to ensure that stolen or hidden money returns to the appropriate countries.
The inaugural Silver Notice, circulated in January 2025, originated from Italy. Authorities in Italy sought information about assets linked to a senior mafia member, recognizing that a significant portion of the individual’s wealth was located outside Italy. The Silver Notice prompted responses from other nations, with Brazil being one of the first to act, detailing various assets associated with the criminal, including real estate and even livestock.
The dialogue between Brazil and Italy has initiated a cooperative effort to bring the discovered assets back to Italy, showcasing the potential for cross-border collaboration enabled by the Silver Notice. This interaction marks an important milestone in international law enforcement's ability to reclaim assets from organized crime.
Anticipation builds as member nations prepare to endorse the full adoption of the Silver Notice at Interpol’s upcoming general assembly in November 2025, which will take place in Hong Kong. This initiative is particularly significant given that it is the first new color-coded alert mechanism introduced by Interpol in over two decades, expanding its repertoire of tools used in global policing.
Previously, the most recognized of Interpol's alert signals was the “Red Notice,” used primarily for tracking individuals wanted for serious crimes. The introduction of the Silver Notice represents a strategic shift towards not just apprehending criminals but also addressing the financial underpinnings of crime through savvy international cooperation. With this new approach, Interpol aims to make meaningful progress in disrupting the financial activities that sustain criminal enterprises worldwide.
