SINGAPORE - Global police organisation Interpol has launched a new notice to assist law enforcement agencies in tracking down assets hidden overseas by individuals and groups involved in criminal activities.

In a statement on Jan 10, Interpol said the Silver Notice is being rolled out in a pilot phase involving 52 countries and territories, and will run at least until November 2025.

The Italian authorities have requested the first Silver Notice, seeking information on the more than half a billion euros worth of assets belonging to a senior member of the mafia.

It was requested by investigators from the Guardia di Finanza of the Italian city of Palermo, and relates to the search for information on the presence of assets mainly in Asia and South America linked to worldwide money laundering activities.

Law enforcement agencies can also request for assistance through Silver Diffusions, which is an informal request for cooperation sent directly by them to select countries.

Interpol said with the Silver Notice and Diffusions, law enforcement agencies can request information on assets linked to criminal activities such as fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crime and other serious offences.

“It will facilitate locating, identifying, and obtaining information about laundered assets including properties, vehicles, financial accounts and businesses,” said Interpol.

It added that the law enforcement agencies may subsequently use the information they collect as a basis for bilateral engagement subject to national laws, including requests for seizure, confiscation or recovery of assets.

Interpol currently has multiple colour-coded notices that enable countries to share alerts and requests for information worldwide.

Its Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.

There are about 80 wanted people on the Interpol Red Notice list with ties to Singapore, including about 40 who are Singaporeans, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary reply on Jan 7.

Other Interpol notices include a Yellow Notice to aid in locating missing people, often minors, or to help identify people who are unable to identify themselves.

There is also a Blue Notice, ...