Ben Keith discusses alleged corruption scandal at the heart of Interpol involving a former senior Interpol official
A Bloomberg article published on 23 December 2024 by Hugo Miller and Irina Vilcu revealed shocking allegations of a former senior Interpol official involving abuse of power within Interpol.
Interpol barrister Ben Keith discusses the allegations that a former senior Interpol official exploited the organisation's refugee policy to facilitate fraudulent asylum claims and erase Red Notices for criminals in Moldova.
In a blog by Red Notice Monitor, Editor Ben Keith comments that these allegations shine a disturbing light on the abuse of power within the organisation and expose vulnerabilities within Interpol’s systems, raising critical concerns about accountability and the risks of corruption.
The blog examines how Interpol's refugee policy, designed to protect human rights, may have been manipulated in Moldova to benefit organised crime networks, how this impacts international justice and what it means for the future of Interpol's integrity.
“The effectiveness of [Interpol’s Refugee Resolution] policy depends heavily on the honesty of Interpol’s member states in submitting accurate and legitimate information. When this trust is abused, as in the Moldova case, the very foundation of international cooperation is at risk.”
“At Red Notice Monitor, we have consistently highlighted the risks associated with bad-faith Red Notices. These notices, intended as tools for international law enforcement, are often weaponised by authoritarian regimes to target political dissidents, journalists, and activists. Interpol’s Refugee Resolution was designed to prevent such abuses, ensuring that refugees could find safety without fear of persecution. However, when exploited, this system can have the opposite effect.
The Moldova scandal reveals a disturbing double exploitation: not only were legitimate asylum seekers potentially sidelined by fraudulent claims, but criminals used these mechanisms to erase their legal records and avoid justice. This dual harm underscores the need for greater vigilance in verifying asylum claims and Red Notice requests.”
This example underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous oversight and accountability within Interpol’s mechanisms. Only by addressing these weaknesses can the organisation uphold its mission to serve justice and protect the vulnerable.
The blog by Red Notice Monitor can be read in full here.
Image: via Unsplash by Sasha Pleshco—
Ben Keith is a leading barrister at 5 St Andrew’s Hill specialising in cross-border and international cases. He deals with all aspects of Extradition, Human Rights, Mutual Legal Assistance, Interpol, Financial crime and International Law including sanctions.
