When the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as INTERÂPOL, comes to mind, law enforcement officers may oftentimes visualize James Bond leapÂing from an exploding car, high-level European esÂpionage, or yet another hierarchy of governmental bureaucracy. Law enforcement is arduous enough at the local level, right?!
"Most law enforcement officers have heard the word INTERPOL but they don't quite know what it is," said Lt. Mike Muth. Within the past few years INTERPOL has worked to demystify this highly specialized and elite organization. Muth, of the Maryland State Police, is currently serving a two Âyear term as assistant chief, in charge of the State Liaison Division to INTERPOL-U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) in Washington, D.C.
Muth manages the State Liaison Division's exÂchange of information and requests between forÂeign and domestic police. The division also serves as liaison for INTERPOL offices established in each of the 50 states. In addition, the State Liaison Division is in charge of getting the word out about how INTERPOL can assist local law enforcement agencies in their criminal investigations.
Snapshot of INTERPOL History
Seventy-five years ago, INTERPOL began as the International Criminal PoÂlice Organization, based in Vienna. The agency reloÂcated to Berlin in the late 1930s and became a branch of the Gestapo. After World War II, it was renamed and moved to Paris. INTERPOL is now headÂquartered in Lyon, France, with Raymond Kendall, of Scotland Yard, in command as secretary-general. INTERPOL has 177 member countries, electronically linked to each other. Each member country establishes a National Central Bureau (NCB) for the purpose of that nation's involveÂment with INTERPOL. In the United States, the National Central Bureau, in Washington, D.C., is part of the U.S. Depar1ment of Justice, co-adminisÂtered by the Treasury Department.
POLICE recently had the opportunity to interview various INTERPOL officials at their Washington, D.C., office. The head of the USNCB Criminal DiÂvision, James York, describes INTERPOL as a mulÂtifaceted organization. "INTERPOL is three things: (1) an internationally recognized channel of comÂmunication between police throughout the world; (2) an investigative resource for the conduct of crimÂinal investigations worldwide; (3) an international database which links the databases with all the police throughout the world with one another. That's what it is," said York. 'The world is our beat."
The USNCB, Washington, D.C., office has five investigative divisions:
The Investigative Services Division
Nathaniel Jacobs is assistant chief of the InvesÂtigative Division, which expedites responses on criminal history and wanted person inquires. In adÂdition, requests for searches of internal and external records, and translation services can be made here. Officers can contact this division 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In one case, the South Brunswick (N.J.) Police Depar1ment utilized the 24-hour service in April 1998 when the department received a frantic call from a woman claiming her husband, Sanjay Soni, had kidÂnapped her two daughters and was planning on taking them to India. The South Brunswick PD. contacted the New Jersey/INTERPOL Liaison Office in West Trenton at approximately 2:00 a.m., which in turn, contacted the INTERPOL office in Washington, D.C. Financial records showed that Soni was en route from New York to London. After several calls made by Washington's INTERPOL office to Scotland Yard and the Office of Intemational Affairs, London authorities arrested Soni at Heathrow Airport on April 24. He was extradited back to the U.S. and the girls were safeÂly returned to their mother.
The Alien/Fugitive Investigative Division
This division, headed by Assistant Chief Matthew Quinn, handles cases inÂvolving the location, apprehension and reÂturn of fugitives, immigration violations, and passport fraud. The division is also responsible for the INTERPOL Notice System, which facilitates arrest warrants and other criminal information for disÂsemination around the world. Member countries issue all-points bulletins, known as "Fugitive Diffusions" and "Red NoÂtices," that contain criminals' phoÂtographs, fingerprints and details of the crimes committed.
Lt. Muth told POLICE, "The key to successful extradition of someone who has fled the country, is the cooperation of the prosecuting attorney's office." In order to issue a Fugitive DiffuÂsion or Red Notice, there must be an arrest warrant and the ofÂfense must carry more than a year's imprisonment. The proseÂcutor must prepare the extradition reÂquest within a specified time period and pay any associated costs.
INTERPOL's Red Notices have conÂtributed to the apprehension of many of the world's most wanted. Thang Thanh Nguyen was captured in December 1997, after six years of an intensive manhunt inÂvolving virtually every level of foreign and domestic law enforcement. In JanÂuary 1998, FBI Director Louis J. Freeh hailed Nguyen's capture as an exceptional example of international cooperation against violent crime. Among the agenÂcies commended were the Monroe CounÂty District Attorney's Office, the IrondeÂquoit Police Department in New York, and the FBI's Buffalo Field Division.
Nguyen was wanted for the murder of a New York restaurant owner. A federal arrest warrant was issued in 1992, based upon a local arrest warrant issued by the Monroe County District Attorney's OfÂfice, which had obtained a grand jury inÂdictment, charging Nguyen with murder. In August 1996, the FBI named Nguyen to its list of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives." The FBI suspected that Nguyen had fled to his native country of Vietnam. The Legal Attache' Office in Bangkok worked closely with the Vietnamese authorities, resulting in the arrest of Nguyen. On Jan. 6, 1998, FBI agents escorted Nguyen back to Rochester, N.Y.
The Financial Fraud Investigative Division
This division, governed by Assistant Chief James Lacey, focuses on fiÂnancial crimes, such as bank fraud, computÂer and credit card fraud and counterfeiting of U.S. obligations. The Fraud Division also handles child abuse/pornography cases, customs and smuggling violations, docuÂment fraud, embezzlement, postal Climes, security and tax fraud, environmental crimes, and violation of endangered species.
The Drug Investigative Division
Assistant Chief Richard Barrett's diviÂsion serves as a conduit for international drug matters. Information on drug imporÂtation, distribution, drug-related intelliÂgence reports, such as trafficking routes and smuggling methods, are coordinated with investigating agencies.
INTERPOL spends 60 percent of its time and resources fighting drug trafÂficking and considers Afghanistan to be the largest single producer of heroin, coÂcaine and morphine. Other illegal drug producing countries of concern for INÂTERPOL include Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Bolivia.
The Criminal Investigative Division
The Criminal Division, governed by Assistant Chief James York, facilitates cases involving art theft, child abducÂtions/parental kidÂnapping, explosives and firearms. This diÂvision also adminisÂters to hijacking, hostage taking, kidÂnapping, organized crime, sabotage, terrorism, threats against high officials, stolen vehicles, and violent crimes.
Committed To Assisting Local Agencies
How can INTERPOL assist you in a criminal investigation? If your agency has a murder suspect who has suddenly skipped to Argentina, discovered drug traffickers in your jurisdiction with conÂnections to a Colombian cartel, or is faced with kidnapping victims whose whereÂabouts are suspected to be in a foreign country, INTERPOL, with its immense amount of data and worldwide resources, can aid your investigation.
If you think you might have a case that falls under the auspices of INTERPOL, you can contact the USNCB at: (202) 616-9000; the State Liaison Division at (202) 616-1051, fax (202) 616-8400, homepage:usdoj.gov/usncb/interpol.htm, or write: INTERPOLÂUSNCB, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530.
Stacey Lorenson is administrative asÂsistant for POLICE. She also served as assistant editor for Death Row, Vol. 8.