Financial Crime World

INTERPOL’s Asset Recovery Offices to Share Information on Organized Crime

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In a move aimed at enhancing cooperation and combating organized crime, INTERPOL’s National Central Bureaus (NCBs) may exchange information with other Asset Recovery Offices on a spontaneous basis. This is provided there are factual reasons to believe that the shared intelligence could assist in the detection, prevention or investigation of crimes.

Information Sharing

According to Article 5 of the Decree-Law, NCBs must respond within:

  • 8 hours for urgent requests regarding serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking
  • Up to 3 days if additional time is needed to provide the requested information
  • 1 week for non-urgent cases
  • 14 days in all other cases

Confidentiality Guaranteed

All data and information exchanged under this Decree-Law will be covered by official secrecy, ensuring that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access. Measures will also be implemented to prevent third-party access to shared intelligence.

Best Practices Sharing

NCBs are required to cooperate with foreign Asset Recovery Offices to share best practices in tracing and identifying proceeds from crime, which may become the object of freezing, seizure or confiscation by a competent judicial authority.

No Impact on Existing Arrangements

This Decree-Law will not prejudice the Republic’s obligations resulting from international instruments on mutual legal assistance or recognition of decisions regarding criminal matters.

Withholding Information

NCBs may refuse to provide information in accordance with Article 10 of the Framework Decision 2006/960/JHA of the Council of the European Union or Annex A to this Decree-Law, if one or more reasons are indicated.

Notification

The Department of Foreign Affairs is required to notify, through diplomatic channels, the General Secretariat of the Council and the European Commission, as well as any subsequent changes, within 10 days following the entry into force of this Decree-Law.