Interpol Issues Silver Notices on India's Request to Track Global Assets
Interpol has issued its first-ever Silver Notices at India's request to help trace the global assets of two individuals. One notice targets former French Embassy officer Shubham Shokeen, wanted for visa fraud; the second is for Amit Madanlal Lakhanpal. This new notice type, introduced in January, aids member countries in locating and recovering assets linked to criminal activities, marking a significant step in international cooperation for India.
Unpacked:
Interpol’s Silver Notice is a new tool designed to help identify and recover assets linked to criminal activity. Unlike Red Notices, which request the arrest or location of individuals, Silver Notices facilitate international cooperation to locate, identify, or monitor assets such as properties, vehicles, and financial accounts connected to crimes.
The Silver Notice was created to strengthen international asset recovery efforts, addressing challenges with traditional mutual legal assistance, which can be slow and ineffective. The concept was approved in 2015, and a pilot phase began in 2025 with 52 countries participating, aiming to improve cross-border information exchange on illicit assets.
During the pilot phase, up to 500 Silver Notices can be issued among 52 participating countries. Notices are not made public and are limited to non-coercive measures, such as requesting information to locate or monitor assets. Member countries can share notices broadly or target specific nations, with the pilot phase running until November 2025.
India’s use of the Silver Notice marks a notable step in leveraging new international law enforcement tools to trace assets beyond its borders. It demonstrates proactive engagement in global asset recovery efforts and highlights the potential for enhanced international cooperation against transnational crime.