INTERPOL's SILVER NOTICE to identify and trace criminal assets, in pilot phase

Presentation

Interpol's colour-coded notification system has been a central pillar of international police co-operation for several decades.

In January 2025, a new stage was reached with the implementation of the 'Silver" Notice, dedicated to the fight against financial crime.

This tool, which is still in the pilot phase, marks the significant development in international strategies in this field.

Genesis of the Silver Notice

The creation of the Silver Notice dates back to a project initially drawn up at Interpol's 84th General Assembly from 2 to 5 November 2015 in Kigali. Under the terms of Resolution No. 1, AG-2015-RES-01, "Pilot project concerning a new category of notice specifically devoted to the tracing and recovery of assets (“Silver Notice”)":

• "one of the most effective means of combating crime, including terrorism, cybercrime, corruption and organized crime, is the tracing, restraint, seizure, recovery and confiscation of proceeds and instrumentalities of crime in order to deprive criminals of their illicitly acquired gains,"
• "over the past few years, only 3 to 5 per cent of global illicit financial flows have been seized and confiscated, thus increasing the need for improved international cooperation mechanisms on asset tracing and recovery, notably through better information sharing and the creation of new legal and operational tools".

The creation of the Interpol Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC) in 2022 and the establishment of a group of experts in 2023 have helped to structure the system.

In January 2025, the first Silver Notice (Italy) was unveiled. This launch, part of the pilot phase involving 52 of Interpol's 195 member countries, is due to continue until November 2025 (at least).

Scope and objectives

Designed to strengthen the exchange of information between countries, the Silver Notice focuses on financial crimes related to money laundering, fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime and other serious offences.

Unlike the Red Notice, which mainly targets individuals wanted for extradition purposes, the Silver Notice focuses on financial and material assets. It makes it possible to locate, identify and transmit information on assets such as bank accounts, real estate, vehicles or businesses.

The aim of this tool is twofold:

1. To strengthen international police cooperation by facilitating the collection and dissemination of financial information between Member States.
2. To serve as a precursor to the Red Notices, as information from the Silver Notices can subsequently be used to locate and apprehend suspects.

Reminder

In accordance with Interpol's Constitution, the organisation has no powers of investigation or arrest. Its mission is "To ensure and promote the widest possible mutual assistance between all criminal police authorities within the limits of the laws existing in the different countries and in the spirit of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”" (Art. 2).

The Silver Notice therefore confines itself to providing information, leaving it to the local authorities to initiate the necessary procedures for the seizure, confiscation or recovery of the assets identified.

The pilot phase of the Silver Notice should enable to gain a better understanding of its effectiveness and assess its impact on international cooperation on financial crime, before its extension and institutionalisation.

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Source: INTERPOL Website

• Overview of Interpol notices
• Interpol's role in fighting financial crime
• Interpol publishes first Silver Notice targeting criminal assets

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