Category: Interpol

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – The 92nd INTERPOL General Assembly has closed with delegates endorsing a range of actions to strengthen the Organization’s capabilities and operational support under the leadership of the new Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza.

In a special address to the General Assembly, on behalf of His Majesty The King, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh offered heartfelt thanks for the hard work and dedication of police around the world.

In the face of the increasing threat posed by organized crime, a series of resolutions aimed at enhancing a coordinated global law enforcement response were approved.

The need for greater information sharing to better inform the evolving terrorism threat intelligence picture and the links to organized crime and its polycriminality was underlined by delegates.

A series of interactive and multi-regional panels addressed key areas including:

• the profound impact of technological advances on policing and how law enforcement can navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape to enhance capabilities while addressing the challenges it presents.
• the benefits of community-focused policing in successfully combating criminality and highlighting crime types that adversely affect women and girls around the globe.
• the national strategic objectives that shape the sharing of biometric data between countries, as well as the key legal, financial and operational challenges.
• the risk of fragmentation and the need for a comprehensive and multilateral response to the current and future threats to ensure human security and sustainable development.

Recognizing the crucial importance of inter-agency work at the national and international level, delegates also supported the signing of a cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization.

The agreement will support a concrete collaboration between law enforcement and public health around the world, in order to effectively address health threats to human populations, from tackling counterfeit and illicit medical products, to the prevention of and response to biological incidents.

Delegates also elected nine new members to the Executive Committee who will each serve a three-year term (2024 – 2027):

• Mohammed Dkhissi, Morocco – Vice President for Africa
• Mary D. Rodriguez, United States of America – Vice President for the Americas
• Liam Price, Canada – Delegate for the Americas
• Luis Alejandro Rolle, Argentina – Delegate for the Americas
• Ali Mohammed Al Ali, Qatar – Delegate for Asia
• Yong Wang, China – Delegate for Asia
• Thorsten Kunst, Germany – Delegate for Europe
• Lucas Philippe, France – Delegate for Europe
• Mustafa Serkan Sabanca, Türkiye – Delegate for Europe

The Executive Committee, which meets three times a year, has 13 members in total, comprising the President, three vice-presidents and nine delegates representing the Organization’s four regions – Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe.

The 92nd session of the General Assembly met from 4 – 7 November in Glasgow, United Kingdom, and was attended by some 1,000 participants, including 65 Chiefs of Police, from 179 countries.

The next session of the General Assembly will take place in Marrakesh, Morocco in 2025.

Delegates also voted for future General Assembly sessions to be held in Hong Kong, China (2026), Doha, Qatar (2027) and Seoul, Republic of Korea (2029).

GLASGOW, United Kingdom: An international police coalition coordinated by INTERPOL has led to the arrest of more than 100 key ‘Ndrangheta members since the project’s launch in 2020.

The 100th and 101st arrests occurred during a coordinated operation last month supported by INTERPOL in Germany and Italy.

German authorities raided three houses in the cities of Ulm and Göppingen, seizing a large cache of information, including cloud data. The police also found significant amounts of cash, luxury watches and jewelry.

The Italian authorities acted in parallel, arresting two suspects, seizing multiple properties and vehicles, and freezing bank accounts.

A Calabrian businessman with alleged links to two ‘Ndrangheta clans was arrested in Bologna while a second suspect was arrested the same day in the city of Formia.

The operation took place within the framework of an investigation led by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza in Bologna.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“The ‘Ndrangheta are a global scourge and demonstrate the unprecedented threat posed by transnational organized crime groups. Yet the success of the I-CAN project makes clear that even the most powerful mafias are not out of reach when law enforcement cooperates across borders.”

Giampiero Ianni, Brigadier General of the Guardia di Finanza, said:

“I-CAN’s 101 arrests show there is no escape for members of the ‘Ndrangheta. With the support of INTERPOL, we have been able to investigate this insidious organization, mapping its international development and working together with prosecutors to apprehend its fugitives.”

The ‘Ndrangheta is often considered one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world.

Its roots are in the Italian region of Calabria but it has now expanded to more than 40 countries worldwide and continues to grow at a steady rate.

The insidious spread of mafia-type crime poses an urgent threat to international peace and security, due to its penetration of political and economic environments and the widespread corruption associated with it.

Funded by the Italian Department of Public Security, INTERPOL’s I-CAN project raises global awareness and understanding about the ‘Ndrangheta and their modus operandi, sharing police information to dismantle their networks and operations and arrest wanted suspects.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – INTERPOL today is releasing preliminary results of its largest-ever operation against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, carried out across 116 countries and territories.

Operation Liberterra II (29 September to 4 October) led to the rescue of 3,222 potential victims of human trafficking and identified 17,793 irregular migrants.

Authorities around the world conducted police raids, reinforced strategic border points, monitored nearly 24,000 flights and deployed officers to known trafficking and smuggling hotspots. Globally, nearly 8 million checks were carried out against INTERPOL’s databases.

A total of 2,517 arrests were made during the week – 850 of which were specifically on human trafficking or migrant smuggling charges.

Operational coordination units were set up in Argentina, Senegal, the Philippines and North Macedonia to assess intelligence and facilitate cooperation between countries within their respective regions and beyond. The operation also saw an unprecedented level of support from 15 specialized units from INTERPOL’s General Secretariat, partner organizations, national agencies and NGOs.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“In their relentless pursuit of profit, organized crime groups continue to exploit men, women and children —often multiple times over. While still preliminary, the results of this operation highlight the vast scale of the challenge facing law enforcement, underscoring that only coordinated action can counteract these threats.”

INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, Stephen Kavanagh said:

“Beyond providing a snapshot of global trafficking and migration trends, the operation served as a vital capacity building opportunity for countries, fostering relationships between specialized units, and enhancing cross-agency collaboration.”

Trafficking-fuelled fraud

The week-long operation uncovered dozens of cases in which trafficking victims were deceived and coerced into committing fraud, marking a clear departure from traditional trafficking patterns, where human exploitation is the sole criminal objective.

Targeting online scam centres using human trafficking victims has been an operational priority since INTERPOL issued an Orange Notice warning its membership of this growing and globalizing trend. In many of these cases victims are lured with false promises of employment and are kept there through intimidation and abuse.

In the Philippines, for example, officers raided a warehouse where more than 250 people, mostly Chinese nationals, were running romance scams on an industrial scale. Officers are now combing through seized devices and carrying out interviews to separate the potential victims of trafficking from members of the criminal enterprise.

On the other side of the world, in West and Central Africa, officers uncovered eight separate cases, involving multiple victims forced into exploitative pyramid schemes. Once recruited, they were transported across borders and held against their will, often suffering physical and psychological abuse.

In one instance, 24 Togolese victims were safeguarded in Mali. The women had been promised employment in locations as far away as North America, but instead, they were charged “recruitment fees” of up to USD 6,000 to operate a multi-level marketing scheme. They were then forced to target family and friends to join as well. So far, 10 arrests have been made.

Polycriminal groups: drugs, cash and weapons

Human trafficking and migrant smuggling are increasingly linked to other forms of crime, often using the same criminal networks and routes. This overlap amplifies profits and power for organized crime groups, making enforcement more complex. The need for a whole-of-crime approach was evident throughout the operation week.

In Brazil, an earlier drug trafficking investigation uncovered a migrant smuggling operation led by the same criminal group. That investigation led them to the arrest of a city council candidate and his associate for smuggling 70 migrants into the United States. In the process, they seized USD 750,000 linked to the operation.

Serbian police arrested 12 suspects linked to two organized criminal groups which facilitated the journeys of at least 178 irregular migrants through Serbia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Police also seized cash, firearms and drugs.

Chilean and Paraguayan authorities worked together to break up a polycriminal group involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering. The group allegedly transported victims into Chile, where they were taken to different cities for sexual exploitation. Four suspects were arrested and 23 victims were rescued and supported.

Additional cases:

• In Argentina, authorities rescued 59 human trafficking victims, including 14 minors, who were forced to work on fruit and vegetable farms. Officials seized shotguns, pistols, ammunition and USD 200,000 in cash.
• Seven suspects were arrested in Algeria on money laundering charges in connection with organizing migrant smuggling. The operation resulted in the seizure of 320,000 dinars (USD 2,400) and several cell phones.

Human trafficking: A global phenomenon

Following raids on houses, businesses and nightclubs in North Macedonia, 13 suspects were arrested on charges of human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering. The 32 potential victims identified during the raids – all women – were mostly from abroad, including Albania, Colombia, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.

Additional cases:

• In Costa Rica, the female leader of a sect was arrested on suspicion of forced labour, child exploitation, emotional and physical abuse. Those recruited were made to take vows of poverty and silence, while top members lived a life of luxury, with high-end vehicles and multiple properties.
• In Syria, authorities identified a group of doctors suspected of organ trafficking.
• In Iraq, 25 people were arrested in connection with a trafficking ring involved in forced begging.
• Ethiopian national authorities arrested a 26-year-old man for recruiting seven victims into domestic servitude in the Middle East, where they were held for weeks, mistreated and starved.

Migrant smuggling: Exploiting the desire for a better life

Analysis of migrant flows is ongoing, but of note was the increasing number of Asian migrants, particularly Vietnamese, detected in the Americas during the operational week. Venezuelan nationals, however, remain the largest group of irregular migrants reported by participating countries, with most migrating to North and South America.

Tunisian authorities intercepted 27 individuals, including 21 minors, attempting to travel to the United Kingdom under the pretense of a language study trip. Coordination with INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Manchester helped identify three suspects in the UK, who have now been referred for prosecution on smuggling charges.

In Kenya, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit arrested two suspects accused of exploiting Ethiopian migrants, uncovering around 100 victims confined in a four-bedroom house. The victims reported being beaten and coerced into contacting family members for money.

Additional cases:

• UK authorities located and identified a Syrian man wanted by Romania for illegally transporting migrants from Bulgaria to Romania, for onward travel to the Netherlands.
• In Türkiye, authorities detected and safeguarded approximately 1,500 irregular migrants, arresting 94 suspected smugglers.
• Authorities in Montenegro arrested 11 members of an organized group suspected of smuggling 350 migrants from Asia into the European Union. Police recovered cash, phones, vehicles, asylum documents and foreign passports.

Focus on sustainable partnerships and cooperation

The operation sought to ensure the widest possible participation and ensure long-term investigative capacity. It was supported by 11 projects which are funded by:

• The European Commission
• The European Union
• Global Affairs Canada
• The United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
• The German Federal Foreign Office
• The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Throughout the week, participating countries were able to directly benefit from the expertise, resources, and coordinated actions of specialized projects and international organizations. Additional support was provided by:

• Afripol
• CARICOM IMPACS
• Europol
• EU4FAST
• Frontex
• International Organization for Migration
• The Regional Support Office of the Bali Process
• ROCK (Regional Operational Center in Khartoum in support of the Khartoum Process and AU-Horn of Africa initiative)
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Participating countries and territories:

Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belize, Benin, Bermuda (UK), Bolivia, Bosnia And Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cayman Islands (UK), Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte D’ivoire, Croatia, Curacao, Cyprus, Congo (Democratic Rep.), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, India, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, St Lucia, Suriname, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turks & Caicos (UK), Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – A global INTERPOL operation has taken down more than 22,000 malicious IP addresses or servers linked to cyber threats.

Operation Synergia II (1 April – 31 August 2024) specifically targeted phishing, ransomware and information stealers and was a joint effort from INTERPOL, private sector partners and law enforcement agencies from 95 INTERPOL member countries.   

Of the approximately 30,000 suspicious IP addresses identified, 76 per cent were taken down and 59 servers were seized. Additionally, 43 electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones and hard disks were seized. The operation led to the arrest of 41 individuals, with 65 others still under investigation.

A global operation

During Operation Synergia II, INTERPOL worked closely with its partners, Group-IB, Trend Micro, Kaspersky and Team Cymru, utilizing their expertise in tracking illegal cyber activities to identify thousands of malicious servers. INTERPOL shared this information with participating law enforcement agencies, which conducted preliminary investigations leading to a series of coordinated actions, including house searches, disruption of malicious cyber activities, and lawful seizures of servers and electronic devices. The following countries participated in the operation:

Hong Kong (China): Police supported the operation by taking offline more than 1,037 servers linked to malicious services.

Mongolia: Investigations included 21 house searches, the seizure of a server and the identification of 93 individuals with links to illegal cyber activities.

Macau (China): Police took 291 servers offline.

Madagascar: Authorities identified 11 individuals with links to malicious servers and seized 11 electronic devices for further investigation.

Estonia: Police seized more than 80GB of server data and authorities are now working with INTERPOL to conduct further analysis of data linked to phishing and banking malware.

Neal Jetton, INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate, said:

“The global nature of cybercrime requires a global response which is evident by the support member countries provided to Operation Synergia II. Together, we’ve not only dismantled malicious infrastructure but also prevented hundreds of thousands of potential victims from falling prey to cybercrime. INTERPOL is proud to bring together a diverse team of member countries to fight this ever-evolving threat and make our world a safer place.”

Targeted crimes

Operation Synergia II is a response to the escalating threat and professionalization of transnational cybercrime. It prioritized three key cybercrime types to protect individuals and businesses globally:

Phishing: Phishing remains the most widely reported initial access technique, used to steal data, deploy malware and move within systems. Increasingly, Generative AI is allowing cybercriminals to create more sophisticated phishing emails, in multiple languages, making them more difficult to detect.

Infostealers: A type of malware that breaches computer systems to steal sensitive data, such as log in credentials or financial information. They are increasingly used to infiltrate systems in ransomware attacks. In 2023 there was over a 40% increase in the sale of logs collected from infostealers on the deep and dark web.

Ransomware: Ransomware attacks increased globally by an average rate of 70 per cent across all industries in 2023, with targeted sectors and geographies expanding considerably.

GLASGOW, United Kingdom – INTERPOL’s General Assembly has elected Valdecy Urquiza as the next Secretary General of the world’s largest police organization.

The Brazilian Police Commissioner will take over at the close of the General Assembly on Thursday 7 November when the current Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, will finish his second and final mandate after being at the helm of the Organization for 10 years.

Thanking the delegates for their confidence in appointing him, Mr Urquiza vowed to promote equality and diversity within the Organization, coordinate with countries to deliver effective investigations and operations, and offer capacity building initiatives tailored to regional policing issues.

Mr Urquiza said: “My commitment is to shape an INTERPOL that doesn’t just meet today’s demands but anticipates and prepares for the challenges of tomorrow.

“A strong INTERPOL is one that includes everyone. When we respect and elevate diverse perspectives, we get a clearer, more comprehensive approach to global security.

“Together, we can build an INTERPOL that serves as a beacon of hope and security, standing shoulder to shoulder with every police force, in every country, to create a safer world for all.”

Welcoming Mr Urquiza’s election and recognizing the achievements of Mr Stock, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said:

“Mr Urquiza represents the future of INTERPOL—a diverse, tech-forward organization committed to working with its 196 member countries to ensure a safer world for all.

“Over the past decade, Secretary General Stock has led our organization with dedication and a commitment to excellence. His time in office has brought major progress in international police cooperation and a strong commitment to improving global security.”

The Secretary General is elected by the General Assembly, INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, with voting carried out on a one-country, one-vote basis, with each member country’s vote carrying equal weight.

Based at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France, the Secretary General is the Organization’s chief official, responsible for the day-to-day decision-making and functioning of the General Secretariat’s activities across all 15 duty stations worldwide.

This includes supervising all the operational support, expertise, databases and services that INTERPOL provides its 196 member countries to support them in the fight against international crime.

About the selection process

The process for selection and appointment of the Secretary General is determined by the Organization’s rules. In June this year, the Executive Committee proposed Mr Urquiza as their candidate for the General Assembly to make the final decision with a vote by secret ballot.

The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s governing body. It meets annually with all decisions made on ‘one country, one vote’ basis, with each vote carrying equal weight.

LYON, France – INTERPOL has today published an updated Repository of Practice (RoP) on how the Organization assesses member countries’ requests for international police cooperation, including Notices and Diffusions.

The RoP outlines how the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters determines compliance with Articles 2(1) and 3 of the Organization’s Constitution which mandate that all activities align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and are not political, military, religious, or racial in nature.

While the previous RoP published in 2013 only covered Article 3, this comprehensive document shares for the first time how INTERPOL determines compliance on human rights grounds.

Using specific scenarios based on real-life cases, the updated RoP provides insights into the decision-making process for offences:

• committed by current or former politicians and high-level civil servants or in the context of a coup d’état or situations of social/civil/political unrest
• concerning freedom of assembly or of association
• relating to terrorism or membership of a terrorist organization
• involving sanctions violations
• including religious or racial elements

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“As a neutral platform for international police cooperation, it is of utmost importance that our activities transcend domestic and global politics.

“The Repository of Practice is a valuable resource which demonstrates INTERPOL’s commitment to upholding human rights principles and the rule of law in our activities.”

The revised RoP, which will be regularly updated, reflects the evolving nature of transnational crime and INTERPOL’s continued work to ensure that its activities comply with its Constitution and rules.

It builds on the creation in 2016 of the Notices and Diffusions Task Force (NDTF), a dedicated multidisciplinary team that conducts a robust quality and legal compliance review of incoming Notice and Diffusions requests from member countries.

Comprised of lawyers, police officers and operations specialists with a wide range of experience and language skills, the NDTF will either authorize or deny each request.

Notices approved by the NDTF are published by the General Secretariat and all INTERPOL member countries are notified.

If a Notice or Diffusion is denied because of non-compliance with Article 2(1) or 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution, no further cooperation is allowed to take place via INTERPOL.

GLASGOW, Scotland: Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, opened the INTERPOL General Assembly, stressing the need for international police cooperation to combat pervasive organized crime.
The General Assembly is INTERPOL’s supreme governing body, made up of representatives from its 196 member countries.
With around 1,000 attendees, it is the largest global gathering of senior law enforcement officials, who collectively decide how INTERPOL operates.
This year, the General Assembly will elect the new Secretary General, after Valdecy Urquiza of Brazil was put forward as the chosen candidate of INTERPOL’s Executive Committee.

The Secretary General is INTERPOL’s chief full-time official and directs the 1,200 staff who work in the organization’s 15 duty stations around the world.
The General Assembly will also elect nine new members to INTERPOL’s 13-member Executive Committee, which oversees the implementation of General Assembly decisions.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“This is the General Assembly of the world’s security experts. It’s your cooperation across borders that saves lives, time and again. It’s your collective efforts that bring organized criminals to justice, wherever they try to hide.”
In his opening remarks, INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi said:
“From the rise of organized crime, drug trafficking and terrorism to climate change and migration challenges, our ability to adapt and innovate is crucial. This year’s General Assembly presents an opportunity for member countries to engage in fruitful conversations, share intelligence, and enhance collaborative strategies.”
The Assembly will also consider a number of motions guiding the organization’s activities on terrorism, lawful access to digital evidence and child abuse, among other subjects.

In his statement to delegates, INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:
“INTERPOL was created to serve police by allowing the exchange of information across borders. This mission still drives our work today. We have made INTERPOL’s systems more connected, our products better and our response more coordinated than ever before.”
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also addressed delegates, saying:
“International security and domestic security are two sides of the same coin. That is why INTERPOL remains integral to public safety.”
The first day of the General Assembly saw the announcement of the INTERPOL Law Enforcement Academy, an educational centre hosting a range of professional development programmes and events.

Housed within INTERPOL’s Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, the Academy will notably offer an Executive Leadership Programme for senior police leaders from around the world. INTERPOL member countries will be invited to nominate candidates for the programme’s first cohort.
“Some lessons can only be learned when fellow officers come together face to face. We must equip the next generation of police leaders with the right skills as they face a world that continues to evolve,” Secretary General Stock said.

For news and developments from INTERPOL’s 92nd General Assembly, visit INTERPOL’s website or follow us on social media.

INCHEON, Korea – INTERPOL, in collaboration with the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), is convening the first-ever Future of Policing Congress to address emerging challenges facing law enforcement. 

The two-day (23-24 October) event will take place alongside the Korea Police World Expo (KPEX) in Incheon, aiming to address the rapidly changing global security landscape and help prepare law enforcement agencies worldwide for the future.

Bringing together law enforcement leaders, industry experts, academics, and stakeholders from various sectors, the Congress will see delegates explore how global ‘megatrends’ will shape the future of policing. 

The event will in turn serve as a platform for participants to identify potential future scenarios, understand their security implications and identify steps to prepare law enforcement to adapt. 

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

“The Future of Policing Congress is not just a moment of reflection. It is a call to action. Recent years have taught us that the world changes faster than we ever could have imagined. Our ways of working, learning, and operating must keep pace.”

Commissioner General CHO Ji Ho, Korean National Police Agency said:

“Today’s Congress goes beyond simply talking about challenges in policing. It presents countries with an invaluable opportunity to canvass new possibilities in responding to technology-driven and engage with one another for better cooperation.”

Innovation-as-a-service

In recent years, INTERPOL has expanded its strategic foresight capabilities to offer member countries ‘innovation-as-a-service, helping member countries anticipate emerging trends and threats.

Engaging with global experts from the public and private sectors, INTERPOL has rolled out initiatives such as the Future Foresight Lab, Young Global Police Leaders Programme and the Responsible AI Lab. 

In 2023, INTERPOL launched Vision 2030 – a major initiative to help steer the strategic direction for the future of global law enforcement.

This was followed by the creation of the INTERPOL Future Council– a diverse group of experts that, from strategic futurists to legal practitioners, academics and young law enforcement voices, helps ensure INTERPOL remains at the forefront of global law enforcement innovation. 

Changing models of policing

The Future of Policing Congress is organized into three sessions: the first explores future scenarios, the second examines their impact on law enforcement, and the final session focuses on how law enforcement can prepare to face future challenges.

The Congress, which was built as a hands-on workshop, is facilitated by academics and experts from private sector and international organizations. It utilizes innovative tools like discussions provoked by AI-generated videos and questions on specific topics.

The Future of Policing Congress looks at the future from 5 dimensions including social, technological, economic, environmental, and geopolitical landscapes. The impact on law enforcement will be explored in terms of evolution of crime, policing duties, data and evidence, and changing models of policing, trust and citizen expectations.

The path forward for law enforcement preparedness will encompass equipment and tools, skill sets, processes and procedures, organizational structures, and international cooperation.

The outcomes of the Congress will be compiled and disseminated to INTERPOL’s 196 member countries.

Illegal gambling fuels human trafficking, money laundering and fraud

LYON, France – In a massive international operation targeting illegal football gambling and its associated criminal activity, authorities made over 5,100 arrests and recovered more than USD 59 million in illicit proceeds.
The operation, code-named SOGA X and conducted between June and July 2024, was a collaborative effort involving INTERPOL and 28 countries and territories. It was designed to tackle illegal online football gambling during the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship, which was predicted to generate a surge in betting turnover, and lucrative profits for criminal organizations.
The illegal gambling market is worth a staggering USD 1.7 trillion globally, according to research by the Asian Racing Federation, and is closely tied to other criminal enterprises. Beyond shutting down tens of thousands of illegal websites, SOGA X investigations also led to the rescue of trafficked workers and the exposure of money laundering syndicates.

Hundreds of human trafficking victims rescued in the Philippines

In one significant case in the Philippines, local authorities, supported by INTERPOL, dismantled a scam centre operating alongside a licensed gambling site.
The operation resulted in the rescue of more than 650 human trafficking victims, including almost 400 Filipinos and more than 250 foreign nationals from six different countries.
Many of the victims had been lured to the location with false promises of employment and were kept there through threats, intimidation, and even passport confiscation. They were then forced into working for the legal gambling site, while also running illegal cyber scams, including romance scams and cryptocurrency-related fraud.
An INTERPOL Operational Support Team provided vital assistance to Filipino authorities on the ground, providing expertise in extracting and analysing forensic evidence from seized devices, tracing illicit financial flows and identifying potential victims and suspects in other jurisdictions.

Profitable Financial Fraud in Vietnam and Thailand

The SOGA X operation also cracked down on large-scale illegal betting sites and complex financial crime schemes.
One notable example from Vietnam, where online gambling is prohibited for citizens, saw authorities dismantle a sophisticated gambling ring that was generating a staggering USD 800,000 in daily transactions.
The syndicate, powered by servers located in multiple countries, used an elaborate network of bank accounts and e-wallets to receive illegal gambling bets and distribute payouts.
In Thailand, police raided two locations hosting major illegal betting websites, arresting the ringleaders and their network for gambling and money laundering offenses and seizing assets worth over USD 9 million.
In Greece, authorities took down a major illegal betting ring that exploited fake and mule user accounts to place bets on sports events. The organized crime group, which employed Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass internet blocks in Greece, operated at least seven illegal gambling sites and had access to accounts on 60 other illegal websites.
The group managed 3,000 fake and ‘mule’ user accounts on legal gambling websites in Greece, Cyprus, and Spain. The accounts had been created using both stolen identity cards and forged documents and often utilized e-wallets to facilitate their illegal activities. During the investigation seized laptops were found to contain 9,000 pictures of fake ID cards.
The goal of this type of scheme is to break down large sums of money into smaller, less detectable amounts. By dispersing their profits across multiple accounts, criminals aim to avoid detection by law enforcement, financial institutions and legitimate gambling sites. It’s a method also used to facilitate money laundering.

How online gambling is linked to other crimes

SOGA X was a coordinated effort led by INTERPOL, with crucial support from the Asia-Pacific Expert Group on Organized Crime (APEG), the INTERPOL Match Fixing Task Force (IMFTF) and operation partner UEFA. INTERPOL facilitated intelligence sharing among participating countries, providing case mentoring and training for local authorities.

Stephen Kavanagh, INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services, said:
“Organized crime networks reap huge profits from illegal gambling, which is often intertwined with corruption, human trafficking, and money laundering. The successes of Operation SOGA X would not have been achieved without global information sharing and significant efforts by law enforcement authorities on the ground.”
Illegal gambling can also be closely tied to match-fixing as criminals attempt to manipulate the outcome of sports events to guarantee profits. When illegal gambling is rampant, it becomes easier for corrupt individuals to influence games, so the SOGA X operation also aimed to intercept and interrupt any signal of manipulation. Related investigations are still ongoing.
Participating countries and jurisdictions: Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Czech Republic, Greece, Guinea Bissau, Hong Kong (China), Hungary, India, Italy, Lebanon, Macao (China), Maldives, Malta, Namibia, Philippines, Portugal, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Vietnam.