The International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, has commended Nigeria’s early use of its Silver Notice mechanism to trace criminal assets across borders and support the recovery of proceeds of crime.
The Secretary General of the global police body, Valdecy Urquiza, gave the commendation when he received Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, at the organisation’s General Secretariat in Lyon, France, on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Urquiza recognised Nigeria as one of the earliest member countries to use the newly operational mechanism, which enables law enforcement agencies to seek information on assets linked to criminal activity in other jurisdictions.
He also praised Nigeria’s cooperation with international partners, citing a joint operation by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre and Japan’s National Police Agency.
The operation dismantled a complex transnational syndicate and led to the arrest of more than 20 suspects.
Nigeria has also participated in INTERPOL-coordinated operations, including Jackal, First Light, Serengeti, Thunder, Liberterra, and Pangea. These operations targeted threats including cyber-enabled fraud, wildlife trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit pharmaceuticals.
Other operations and programmes involving Nigeria include Shams II, CT Tech+, Operation Eagle Academy, Operation Carback, and Operation Shadow Storm, reflecting the scope of its international policing engagements.
As one of Africa’s leading contributors of data to INTERPOL’s global systems, Nigeria also supports law enforcement agencies in detecting and disrupting crime across national boundaries.
Urquiza commended Nigeria’s frontline role in international law enforcement and its alignment with INTERPOL’s strategic framework.
He specifically praised Nigeria’s hosting of the 11th Meeting of Heads of INTERPOL National Central Bureaus for West Africa in Abuja in June 2026, as well as its substantive contributions to the INTERPOL Africa Committee.
The bilateral talks focused on strengthening international law enforcement cooperation against terrorism, cybercrime, financial crime, and emerging transnational organised crime networks.
The discussions also examined collaboration on INTERPOL initiatives and the use of its policing capabilities to support Nigeria’s response to criminal networks operating across regions and jurisdictions.
Disu reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to multilateral cooperation in safeguarding domestic, regional, and global security.
He said the federal government was actively considering accession to INTERPOL’s Agreement on Privileges and Immunities.
The Inspector-General also pledged to expand the secondment of Nigerian police officers to INTERPOL and other international organisations to which Nigeria belongs.
He outlined ongoing efforts to widen the Nigeria Police Force’s digital infrastructure, including the integration of artificial intelligence into its operations.
As part of the visit, Disu toured INTERPOL’s Command and Coordination Centre, where he received firsthand insight into the organisation’s daily operational response arrangements and support for member countries.
He was accompanied by Assistant Inspector-General Olaolu Adegbite, head of INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Abuja; Assistant Inspector-General Akoh Benedict Gabriel, head of the Nigeria Police Force Counter-Terrorism Unit; and Assistant Inspector-General Ezima Akaninyene Ifebem, director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police Olubode Ojajuni, a member of the INTERPOL Africa Committee, was also part of the delegation.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
