Charlie Magri and Dr. Ted R. Bromund have co-authored an article in the International Enforcement Law Reporter (IELR), exploring INTERPOL’s recent legal reforms and the launch of the Silver Notice system. Titled “INTERPOL Updates Rules and Guidance and Launches Silver Notice,”, their article examines the far-reaching consequences of the changes introduced at INTERPOL’s 92nd General Assembly in November 2024.
The article opens by discussing the appointment of Valdecy Urquiza as INTERPOL’s new Secretary General and the narrow defeat of a controversial proposal to extend the President’s term limits. It also highlights the mixed implications of the Silver Notice, a tool designed to facilitate the recovery of illicit assets. Magri and Bromund raise concerns over its reliance on non-conviction-based forfeiture, which, while increasingly common in anti-money laundering frameworks, lacks robust procedural safeguards. They warn that this system may be vulnerable to misuse, particularly by authoritarian regimes seeking to target political opponents under the guise of financial crime investigations.
The authors also review the amendments to the Rules on the Processing of Data (RPD), which clarify the handling of sensitive data, public information, and dispute resolution, but leave open questions about oversight and accountability—especially regarding direct communications between member countries.
Lastly, Magri and Bromund welcome the long-awaited update to the Repository of Practice on Articles 2(1) and 3 of INTERPOL’s Constitution but note its limited guidance on financially motivated political cases, leaving a critical gap in the framework.
Magri and Bromund conclude that while these changes mark progress, they underscore the need for stronger safeguards to prevent INTERPOL’s channels from being misused for political repression.
