INTERPOL Silver Notices surge as authorities trace $2.2 billion in global assets

INTERPOL has confirmed that more than 200 active Silver Requests are now being used across 80+ countries to trace approximately $2.2 billion in alleged criminal assets. The development highlights the increasing international use of Silver Notices in financial crime, asset recovery and cross-border investigations.

Why are INTERPOL Silver Notices becoming increasingly important in international investigations?

Unlike traditional INTERPOL notices focused primarily on locating individuals, Silver Notices are specifically designed to assist authorities in identifying and tracing assets linked to alleged criminal activity across multiple jurisdictions.

INTERPOL’s latest Silver Notice update provides further insight into how international authorities are increasingly using the mechanism to support cross-border financial investigations and asset-tracing efforts

From both a regulatory and legal perspective, the continued expansion of the Silver Notice framework may reflect the growing international focus on financial transparency, asset recovery and coordinated enforcement action. The latest developments also highlight how Silver Notices can facilitate information sharing between authorities while supporting wider investigations involving financial crime, organised crime and alleged misappropriation of assets.

For individuals and businesses, the increasing use of Silver Notices may also raise important considerations regarding international investigations, cross-border exposure, asset-tracing measures and potential parallel criminal or civil proceedings. In this article, we examine the key highlights from INTERPOL’s latest update and the broader significance of the evolving Silver Notice framework.

Is the INTERPOL Silver Notice framework expanding?

Gherson has closely tracked the development of the INTERPOL Silver Notice framework since its launch in January 2025, including its increasing use in asset recovery and financial crime investigations alongside Indian and African law enforcement authorities and Asia-Pacific law enforcement experts

How are INTERPOL Silver Notices being used to trace international assets?

In a recent editorial, INTERPOL detailed how the Silver Notice enables police in over eighty countries to trace and identify illegal assets across borders and how there are now over 200 active Silver Requests in the system seeking to trace a total of $2.2 billion in cash and assets.

INTERPOL also detailed the following Silver Notice successes:

• The first Silver Notice published at launch in January 2025 and requested by Italy seeking information on assets belonging to a senior member of the mafia, which quickly led to the identification of $1.7 million in Brazil;
• A European country also used a Silver Notice to seek to trace more than $18 million in public funds misappropriated by a former member of its National Asset Management Company;
• A Silver Notice requested by India resulted in Australia sharing information on the suspect’s connections and potential assets.

Can INTERPOL Silver Notices be used alongside Red Notices?

As INTERPOL explain, the Silver Notice can also be used in conjunction with other INTERPOL measures:

“All of these cases have been decisive in helping to trace criminal assets, but the Silver Notice successes go even further than that, stimulating ongoing exchanges of information that lead to further investigations”, said Claudio Marinelli, Operational Silver Notice Lead within the INTERPOL Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre. “This is especially helpful when a Silver Notice is combined with a Red Notice seeking the arrest of a fugitive, as the detention of the suspect concerned may lead to information on companies they have worked with, assets they own or other people in their entourage”.

Our perspective

In our experience, international investigations increasingly involve parallel financial, regulatory and criminal components across multiple jurisdictions. Measures such as INTERPOL Silver Notice requests demonstrate the growing emphasis being placed on international asset tracing, financial transparency and cross-border cooperation between enforcement authorities.

For individuals and businesses, this can create significant legal and reputational considerations, particularly where international asset structures, civil disputes, politically exposed allegations or parallel enforcement proceedings are involved.

The increasing interaction between Silver Notices, Red Notices and wider financial investigations also highlights the importance of obtaining early legal advice where there is a risk of international enforcement action or asset tracing measures.

Frequently asked questions about INTERPOL Silver Notices

What is an INTERPOL Silver Notice?

An INTERPOL Silver Notice is an international cooperation tool designed to help law enforcement authorities identify and trace assets linked to alleged criminal activity across multiple jurisdictions.

What types of assets can INTERPOL Silver Notices trace?

Silver Notices may assist authorities in tracing assets including bank accounts, cryptocurrency holdings, real estate, luxury goods, company interests and other property linked to financial investigations or alleged criminal conduct.

How many countries currently use INTERPOL Silver Notices?

According to INTERPOL, more than 80 countries are now participating in the Silver Notice framework, with over 200 active Silver Requests linked to approximately $2.2 billion in assets.

Can businesses or individuals challenge INTERPOL measures?

Depending on the circumstances, individuals may be able to challenge certain INTERPOL measures, including Red Notices and related data processing concerns, particularly where there are issues involving proportionality, political motivation or procedural fairness.

How Gherson can help

Those who suspect that they may be subject to INTERPOL measures, including a Red (or Blue) Notice and diffusion, should take heed.

Gherson Solicitors continue to receive requests for expert advice and assistance from those who believe they may have outstanding financial issues. That advice tackles:

1. How best to approach a possible INTERPOL notice;
2. Preparing for potential criminal proceedings / an extradition request;
3. Preparing for a situation where a civil matter or commercial dispute could be used to initiate bogus criminal proceedings; and
4. Even exploring the possibility of instigating civil litigation proceedings to recover any misappropriated assets.

Gherson has over 37 years of experience in assisting with all aspects of INTERPOL, Red Notice challenges and extradition. If you would like to speak to us in respect of any of the issues raised in this blog or about your specific circumstances, do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or alternatively, follow us on X, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog.  For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson.  Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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