INTERPOL and Its Role in Combating Transnational Crime

Author: Oleksandr Teleshetskyi, Partner at Grain Law Firm, Attorney

Transnational crime refers to criminal activity that extends beyond the borders of a single state, involves several jurisdictions, and is often carried out by global criminal networks. Its defining characteristic is its ability to undermine state sovereignty, as such crimes typically fall outside the effective jurisdiction of national law enforcement authorities and legal systems. Transnational crime encompasses a broad range of unlawful activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, illegal arms trade, environmental crimes, and other forms of organized criminal conduct.

These activities negatively affect the political, economic, and social stability of individual states and contribute to global instability by exacerbating human rights violations. Given the scale and complexity of transnational crime, effective counteraction requires international cooperation and coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies from different countries.

One of the key mechanisms for such cooperation is INTERPOL — the world’s largest international criminal police organization. Established in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission, the organization is headquartered in Lyon, France, and serves as a coordination center for international criminal investigations. INTERPOL’s primary mission is to strengthen international police cooperation in combating transnational crime and ensuring global security.

At the outset, it should be emphasized that INTERPOL is not a police force. Neither national nor international legal acts are enforced directly by INTERPOL, and its personnel and seconded police officers acting under its name do not exercise state powers of physical coercion, investigation, or arrest. Nevertheless, policing depends on the coordinated work of a vast number of professionals, including media liaison offices, environmental monitoring units, quality assurance teams, community engagement specialists, and criminal intelligence experts. A significant part of police work involves the processing and exchange of information concerning crime and security threats.

INTERPOL’s model of global policing emerged not primarily through technological innovation, but through a deliberately narrow functional mandate that enabled the organization to avoid many of the coordination challenges faced by broader international institutions, such as the United Nations. INTERPOL operates within the framework of existing national laws, even between states that lack diplomatic relations. At present, concepts such as “political asylum,” “terrorist organizations,” “espionage,” or “drone-assisted killings” are interpreted differently across jurisdictions, while certain acts remain unclassified as criminal offenses in some states.

The organization was founded in Vienna, Austria, on 7 September 1923 and is currently headquartered in Lyon, France. INTERPOL operates through seven regional bureaus worldwide and National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in all 194 member states, making it the largest international police organization in the world. In addition, the INTERPOL General Secretariat maintains specialized representative offices in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Brussels (Belgium) — serving as the Special Representative Office to the European Union — Yaoundé (Cameroon), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), San Salvador (El Salvador), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) — serving as the Special Representative Office to the African Union — Nairobi (Kenya), Bangkok (Thailand), New York (United States) — serving as the Special Representative Office to the United Nations — and Harare (Zimbabwe).

INTERPOL originated from the First International Criminal Police Congress held in 1914, which brought together officials from 24 countries to discuss cooperation in law enforcement matters. It was formally established in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), assuming many of its present-day functions during the 1930s. Following Nazi control over the organization in 1938, the agency ceased effective operations until the end of World War II. In 1956, the ICPC adopted a new constitution and officially assumed the name “INTERPOL,” derived from its telegraphic address used since 1946.

In essence, INTERPOL provides investigative support, expertise, and training to law enforcement authorities worldwide, focusing on three principal areas of transnational crime: terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime. Its mandate effectively covers nearly all forms of criminal activity, including crimes against humanity, child sexual exploitation material, illicit drug trafficking and production, political corruption, copyright infringement, and other serious offenses. The organization also facilitates cooperation between national law enforcement agencies through criminal databases and communication networks. Contrary to common misconceptions, INTERPOL itself is not a law enforcement agency.

INTERPOL’s annual budget amounts to approximately EUR 113 million (USD 131 million), funded primarily through annual contributions from member police authorities across 181 countries. The organization is governed by the General Assembly, composed of representatives of all member states, which elects the Executive Committee and the President — currently Kim Jong Yang of South Korea — responsible for overseeing policy implementation and administration. Day-to-day operations are carried out by the General Secretariat, which consists of approximately 1,000 personnel from member states, including both police officers and civilian specialists.

INTERPOL also seeks to maintain strict political neutrality in accordance with its mandate. Its Constitution expressly prohibits the organization from undertaking any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious, or racial character, or from becoming involved in disputes relating to such matters.

Each member state maintains a National Central Bureau (NCB) within its jurisdiction. These NCBs connect national law enforcement authorities with their counterparts abroad and with the INTERPOL General Secretariat through the organization’s secure global police communications network known as I-24/7.

Whenever a crime extends beyond national jurisdiction, states require international support to address it effectively. NCBs receive all necessary information from other NCBs to support domestic investigations and exchange criminal intelligence data. Within the framework of global investigations, NCBs cooperate with national law enforcement agencies, foreign NCBs, and INTERPOL’s regional offices worldwide. They also develop training programs for domestic law enforcement personnel aimed at improving awareness of INTERPOL’s functions, services, and databases.

NCBs also facilitate the exchange of criminal data. They transmit relevant national criminal information to INTERPOL’s global databases in accordance with domestic legislation. This ensures that accurate information is available in real time, enabling law enforcement authorities to identify criminal patterns, prevent offenses, and apprehend suspects. For example, INTERPOL “Red Notices” alert police authorities worldwide regarding wanted persons, while NCBs cooperate simultaneously in cross-border investigations, operations, and arrests. By extending investigations beyond national borders, NCBs routinely seek cooperation with corresponding bureaus in other jurisdictions. Given the shared security challenges faced within various regions, NCBs increasingly coordinate their activities on a regional basis, pooling resources and expertise.

The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF) is an independent body responsible for ensuring that all personal data processed through INTERPOL channels complies with applicable regulations. INTERPOL processes substantial volumes of personal data through its notices and criminal databases, including names, photographs, identifying characteristics, and fingerprints. The CCF operates as an impartial supervisory body tasked with ensuring that INTERPOL’s processing of personal data is conducted in accordance with established legal standards. The Commission performs three principal functions established under the INTERPOL Constitution: supervisory, advisory, and complaints-handling functions. It reviews requests from individuals seeking access to, correction of, or deletion of data contained within INTERPOL’s information systems. As an independent body, the CCF cooperates closely with the INTERPOL General Secretariat, NCBs, and other organizational structures to ensure the effective performance of its mandate.

INTERPOL Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts that enable police authorities in member states to exchange critical crime-related information. Notices are issued by the General Secretariat upon request from an NCB and are accessible to all member countries. Notices may also be used by the United Nations, international criminal tribunals, and the International Criminal Court in order to locate individuals wanted for crimes falling within their jurisdiction, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Most notices are intended exclusively for law enforcement use and are not publicly accessible. However, in certain cases — for example, where public awareness or assistance is necessary — extracts may be published. United Nations Special Notices are public by default.

INTERPOL cooperation remains critically important in combating international crime, as linguistic, cultural, and bureaucratic differences frequently complicate cooperation among law enforcement agencies from different countries. For example, special agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) may identify a terrorist suspect in Brazil without knowing which Brazilian authority to contact directly. In such cases, the Brazilian government must be informed of the FBI’s involvement, and the FBI may contact INTERPOL’s NCB in Brazil, which then acts as a liaison between Brazilian and U.S. law enforcement authorities.

INTERPOL’s databases, maintained at its headquarters in Lyon, assist law enforcement agencies in combating international crime. While national agencies maintain extensive domestic criminal databases, such information often remains confined within national borders. INTERPOL databases enable authorities worldwide to track offenders and criminal patterns through authorized collections of fingerprints, photographs, wanted persons records, DNA samples, and documents. In addition, the encrypted I-24/7 communication network allows INTERPOL personnel and member states to communicate securely at any time and ensures uninterrupted access to these databases.

NCBs remain the principal access points to this network, although some member states have extended connectivity to airports and border crossing points. Through the I-24/7 system, member states routinely access one another’s criminal databases. Since 2013, INTERPOL has issued approximately 13,637 notices, including around 8,857 Red Notices, compared with 4,596 notices issued in 2008. By 2019, the number of active notices had reached 52,880.

Accordingly, INTERPOL’s powers and role may be summarized through the following key areas:

1. Global Criminal Information Exchange

One of INTERPOL’s most significant functions is serving as a central hub for the exchange of criminal information among law enforcement agencies worldwide. Through the secure I-24/7 communication system, member states gain access to numerous global databases that support investigations and the search for suspects. These include the Criminal Information System (CIS), fingerprint databases, DNA profiles, and stolen property databases, all accessible in real time.

These resources substantially enhance the ability of member states to identify, trace, and apprehend suspects operating across national borders. The effectiveness of these databases derives not only from their technological sophistication, but also from standardized data collection and interoperability between national law enforcement systems. INTERPOL’s ability to rapidly disseminate information concerning fugitives, missing persons, and illicit goods directly contributes to more effective law enforcement coordination and response.

2. Capacity Building

In addition to its information-sharing infrastructure, INTERPOL actively strengthens the capacity of national police services through training and technical assistance. Recognizing the differing levels of institutional readiness among member states, INTERPOL develops tailored training programs and workshops aimed at improving investigative methods, forensic expertise, and cross-border cooperation in addressing complex criminal activities.

A flagship initiative in this area is the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore, which provides specialized training in emerging fields such as cybercrime, terrorism, and organized crime. The IGCI also serves as a platform for international cooperation and research into advanced policing technologies. By promoting best practices and supporting innovation, INTERPOL assists member states in modernizing their law enforcement systems.

3. Coordination of Multinational Operations

INTERPOL plays a central role in organizing and managing multinational operations aimed at combating specific forms of transnational crime. These operations, often conducted in cooperation with organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Europol, focus on areas including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism.

One example is Operation Infra-Red, which targets child sexual exploitation and trafficking networks. Another is Operation Lionfish, aimed at combating maritime drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Latin America. Within such operations, INTERPOL provides logistical support, strategic coordination, and real-time intelligence sharing to ensure synchronized law enforcement action across multiple jurisdictions. These coordinated efforts demonstrate INTERPOL’s ability to mobilize global resources and disrupt transnational criminal networks effectively.

4. Strategic Impact

INTERPOL’s structured approach — based on real-time intelligence sharing, standardized training, and transnational coordination — enables national law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to the challenges posed by globalized crime. By providing a unified framework for international policing, INTERPOL supports the sovereignty of individual states while simultaneously strengthening collective security.

The organization also promotes trust and cooperation between diverse legal systems and political environments, helping to overcome barriers that frequently impede cross-border criminal investigations. INTERPOL’s ability to function both as a facilitator and coordinator of international law enforcement strategies confirms its indispensable role in maintaining global security.

Conclusions and Recommendations

The growing scale of international crime requires Ukraine to intensify cooperation with foreign states and international organizations in such areas as counterterrorism, anti-money laundering, combating illicit drug trafficking, and preventing human trafficking and illegal migration — particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

In this context, cooperation between law enforcement agencies of different states becomes one of the key aspects of international collaboration. Ukraine cooperates with INTERPOL in exchanging operational information and locating fugitives; with Europol in conducting joint investigations and sharing intelligence concerning transnational criminal groups; and with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in preventing terrorist financing and money laundering.

Ukraine is currently actively integrating into the international crime prevention system. However, a number of challenges continue to impede the effectiveness of such cooperation, including insufficient adaptation of national legislation to international standards, difficulties in information exchange between law enforcement agencies of different states, the absence of a unified mechanism for legal assistance in criminal matters, and insufficient knowledge of international law among domestic law enforcement personnel.

In light of the above, we believe that improving international cooperation should involve active participation in the development of international standards for combating crime, deeper integration with European security structures, and the expansion of bilateral agreements with partner states aimed at combating organized crime.