What INTERPOL does

INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization, ICPO-INTERPOL) is an intergovernmental police cooperation body founded in 1923 and headquartered in Lyon, France, with 196 member countries. It does not conduct investigations directly; rather, it enables cross-border law enforcement action through National Central Bureaus (NCBs) embedded in each member country, four representative offices (UN, AU, EU, regional innovation hub in Singapore), and a network of regional bureaus. Core services are delivered free of charge to member-country agencies and include color-coded Notices (Red for fugitives, Yellow for missing persons, Blue for unidentified persons involved in crime, Purple for modus operandi, Silver for asset tracing), secure global communications (the I-24/7 system), shared criminal databases (DNA profiles, fingerprints, facial recognition, stolen travel documents, ballistic records), border management tools (I-Checkit), forensics analysis, fugitive investigative support, and a 24/7 Command and Coordination Centre. Specialized databases include iARMS for illicit firearms and the ICSE database for child sexual exploitation victims.

The underlying technology platform combines biometric matching systems with an AFIS fingerprint database, content-based image/video retrieval for child-exploitation cases, a stolen-document repository, and increasingly, partner-supplied threat intelligence from cybersecurity vendors such as Group-IB, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, Team Cymru, Shadowserver, Fortinet, and Microsoft. The I-CORE strategic vision, alongside Project Stadia for major-event cybersecurity, represents the modernization roadmap. Operations scale globally and recently include Operation Pangea XVIII (6.42M doses of counterfeit pharmaceuticals seized, 269 arrests, 90 countries), Operation Synergia III (94 arrests and 45,000+ malicious IPs sinkholed, 72 countries), Operation Red Card 2.0 (651 arrests, $4.3M recovered in Africa), and the 2026 Global Financial Fraud Threat Assessment quantifying $442B in 2025 fraud losses.

The business model is non-commercial statutory plus voluntary funding. INTERPOL derives revenue entirely from member-state contributions and project-based donor funding rather than user fees. In 2025, total revenue was €224M, comprising €105M in statutory contributions (calibrated to a UN-adapted scale by economic weight) and €113M in voluntary funding (94% from government agencies, plus foundations, organizations, and in-kind support such as seconded police officials representing 23% of staff). No tiered pricing exists; services are uniformly free at point of use to authorized law-enforcement personnel. Customer segments are public-sector only — member-country police forces, border and customs authorities, anti-doping agencies, and international criminal-justice bodies (ICC, Europol, Frontex, WCO, WADA, IOC) — with no commercial SMB or enterprise channel.

Name

INTERPOL

Legal name

International Criminal Police Organization

Website

https://interpol.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

INTERPOL is the world's largest international police organization, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Lyon, France. It enables cross-border law enforcement cooperation across 196 member countries through secure databases, real-time I-24/7 communications, Notices, and coordinated operations targeting transnational crime, cybercrime, terrorism, and financial fraud.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Law Enforcement Cooperation Services

NAICS

Police Protection (92212), International Affairs (92812), Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Border Security, Maritime Security & Transnational Threat Cooperation (BPADAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Threat Intelligence Services (BPAEADAC), Security Incident Response (IR) & Digital Forensics Services (BPAEADAI)

Keywords

• International law enforcement cooperation
• Police databases and notices
• Criminal intelligence sharing
• Border management screening
• Transnational crime coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Statutory Contributions: Each of INTERPOL's 196 member countries pays an annual statutory contribution based on an adapted scale of United Nations contributions, essentially based on economic weight. In 2025, statutory contributions totaled 105 million euros.
2. Voluntary Funding: Additional funding for specific activities and projects from government agencies, international organizations, foundations and private entities. In 2025, voluntary funding (in cash and in-kind) totaled 113 million euros. In-kind support includes personnel (23% of staff are police officials seconded by member countries), office space and equipment. 94% of voluntary funding comes from partnerships with government agencies.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

INTERPOL operates a global police cooperation platform spanning 196 member countries, providing secure real-time access to criminal databases (DNA, fingerprints, facial recognition, stolen travel documents, wanted persons) via the I-24/7 communications system. It issues eight categories of international Notices (Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Orange, Purple, Silver, UN Security Council Special Notices) to locate fugitives, missing persons and assets, and coordinates multi-country law enforcement operations through its 24/7 Command and Coordination Centre and deployable INTERPOL Response Teams. Supporting services include forensics analysis, fugitive investigative support, border screening via I-Checkit, capacity building and training, and specialized databases such as iARMS (firearms tracking) and the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database.

Product overview

INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) is a global law enforcement cooperation organization with 196 member countries. Rather than a single product, INTERPOL operates as a platform of interconnected tools and services enabling international police cooperation. The core offerings include various types of Notices (Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, Silver) for alerting member countries about wanted persons, missing persons, and criminal activities. Supporting this are comprehensive Criminal Databases containing DNA profiles, fingerprints, facial recognition, and stolen document records accessible through the secure I-24/7 Global Police Communications System. Additional modules include I-Checkit for border document verification, forensics services, fugitive investigative support, and the Command and Coordination Centre for real-time operational support. Specialized databases include iARMS for firearms tracking and the International Child Sexual Exploitation Database. Major initiatives like Project Stadia provide cybersecurity for major sporting events, while the I-CORE program represents strategic modernization of INTERPOL's technological capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Red Notices International wanted-persons alerts requesting location and provisional arrest of fugitives pending extradition, issued at the request of a member country's law enforcement and circulated to all 196 member countries via the I-24/7 system and publicly on interpol.int.
• Yellow Notices International alerts for missing persons, particularly vulnerable individuals and victims of trafficking or exploitation, used to locate and identify people reported missing across borders.
• Blue Notices (Unidentified Persons Notices) Notices seeking information on individuals who may be involved in a crime when their identity needs to be established, supporting cross-border identification of unknown persons.
• Purple Notices International alerts flagging new criminal modus operandi, methods, procedures and concealment techniques to help law enforcement identify and counter emerging criminal innovations.
• Silver Notices Global cooperation tool to trace illegal assets — including properties, vehicles, financial accounts and businesses — across borders for potential seizure and asset recovery.
• I-24/7 Global Police Communications System Secure web-based system that lets authorized police officers check INTERPOL criminal databases in real time from the frontline and exchange information with counterparts in 196 member countries.
• Criminal Databases Comprehensive INTERPOL databases covering nominal (wanted persons), DNA profiles, fingerprints, facial recognition, stolen and lost travel documents, and criminal records, accessible via I-24/7 to member countries.
• iARMS (International Arms and Munitions Tracking System) Database for tracking stolen, lost and trafficked firearms, ammunition and explosives across borders, used by law enforcement and customs partners to disrupt illicit arms trafficking.
• International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) Database Specialized database using advanced image and video analysis to identify child sexual abuse victims and perpetrators, and to support rescue operations and investigations globally.
• I-Checkit Border management tool enabling police and border officials to verify travel documents and screen travelers against INTERPOL watchlists in real time at border crossing points.
• Command and Coordination Centre 24/7 operational coordination center at the General Secretariat that manages international law-enforcement operations, crisis response and real-time support for member countries.
• Forensics Services Forensic analysis capabilities including DNA profiling, fingerprint identification (AFIS), document examination and ballistics analysis supporting criminal investigations across member countries.
• Fugitive Investigative Support Operational assistance to member countries in locating and arresting fugitives who have crossed international boundaries, including the issuance of Red Notices and coordination of transnational manhunts.
• INTERPOL Response Teams Deployable teams of expert investigators that assist member countries with major investigations, disaster victim identification and crisis response upon request.
• Project Stadia — Major Event Security Cybersecurity and threat-intelligence support for major international sporting and public events (such as AFCON 2025), helping host countries plan and respond to event-scale threats.
• Capacity Building and Training Programs Direct training and capacity-building programs for law-enforcement officials from member countries on investigation techniques, illicit-trafficking enforcement, and cybercrime response, delivered through regional programs and the INTERPOL Global Academy Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 160 wanted criminals brought back to India in recent years through INTERPOL coordination
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Group-IBmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Cybersecurity firm providing threat intelligence on phishing infrastructure, malicious servers, and malware distribution networks supporting INTERPOL cybercrime operations including Operation Ramz and Operation Synergia III.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor funding partner and strategic collaborator on law enforcement initiatives. EU provides significant voluntary funding and cooperates on border management, organized crime, and security programs across Europe and globally.
• United NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERPOL maintains a Special Representative Office at the UN in New York. Cooperates on terrorism, organized crime, and development issues through various UN agencies and programs.
• African UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERPOL has a Special Representative Office at the African Union in Addis Ababa. Cooperates on continental security initiatives including terrorism, trafficking, and organized crime affecting Africa.
• World Customs Organization (WCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint operations and intelligence sharing on smuggling, counterfeiting, and illicit trade. WCO received access to INTERPOL's iARMS database for tracking illegal weapons.
• World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to combat doping in sports through intelligence sharing, joint operations targeting performance-enhancing drug networks, and support for the GAINS anti-doping network.
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports integrity partnership addressing competition manipulation and match-fixing through the Match Fixing Task Force and integrity workshops for major sporting events.
• World Customs OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Operation Thunder on wildlife trafficking, sharing intelligence and conducting joint enforcement actions across borders to combat illegal wildlife trade.
• KasperskymajorTechnology or IntegrationThreat intelligence partner contributing to Operation Ramz and AFCON 2025 cybersecurity support through Project Stadia, providing malware analysis and cyber threat detection capabilities.
• Trend MicromajorTechnology or IntegrationCybersecurity firm providing threat intelligence supporting cybercrime operations across Asia-Pacific and MENA regions, contributing to Operation Ramz and regional threat assessments.
• Team CymrumajorTechnology or IntegrationThreat intelligence company providing visibility into malicious network infrastructure supporting INTERPOL cybercrime operations including Operation Ramz.
• Shadowserver FoundationmajorTechnology or IntegrationNon-profit organization providing threat intelligence on botnets and malicious infrastructure supporting INTERPOL's cybercrime operations and takedowns.
• FortinetmajorTechnology or IntegrationCybersecurity firm contributing threat intelligence through the World Economic Forum Cybercrime Atlas to Operation Red Card 2.0 in Africa, identifying targets and supporting coordinated action.
• MicrosoftmajorTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership to raise global standards against cybercrime and enhance child sexual exploitation victim identification through advanced technology solutions.
• FrontexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Border and Coast Guard Agency cooperating on border security operations including training on illicit trafficking for Central Asian border officials.
• EuropolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union law enforcement agency with long-standing cooperation including liaison office at INTERPOL, joint operations, and shared intelligence on transnational crime.
• UNODCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime collaborating on anti-drug trafficking operations, training on small arms and light weapons trafficking, and international crime prevention programs.
• International Criminal Court (ICC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERPOL has issued Red Notices at the ICC's request for suspected war crimes perpetrators and supports international criminal justice proceedings.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Europol: European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, INTERPOL's most direct counterpart. Operates the EU's criminal intelligence sharing, databases (SIENA), and joint operations, maintaining a liaison office at INTERPOL. Comparable in mission (transnational crime coordination) and structure (intergovernmental, member-state funded).
• Frontex: European Border and Coast Guard Agency coordinating operational border security across EU member states and partner countries. Highly comparable to INTERPOL's border management function (I-Checkit, document verification) and a confirmed INTERPOL partner.
• World Customs Organization (WCO): Intergovernmental organization coordinating customs policies and operations globally. Operates joint enforcement actions (e.g., Operation Thunder on wildlife trafficking) with INTERPOL and has access to iARMS. Comparable in intergovernmental structure, member-funded model, and operational coordination of cross-border enforcement.

Broad incumbents

• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime): UN entity that assists member states in addressing illicit drugs, crime prevention, criminal justice, and counter-terrorism. Overlaps with INTERPOL on operations (drug trafficking, anti-corruption) and policy, though UNODC is broader in scope (policy + technical assistance) and not operational in the same frontline sense.
• CEPOL (European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training): EU agency that develops, implements, and coordinates training and learning for law enforcement officials across Europe. Comparable in intergovernmental funding model and law enforcement training/development mandate that overlaps with INTERPOL's capacity-building function.

Regional players

• AFRIPOL: African Union mechanism for police cooperation across African Union member states. Conducts joint operations, capacity building, and intelligence sharing at a continental level, often in coordination with INTERPOL (e.g., Operation Red Card 2.0, Operation Sentinel). Comparable scope and structure, geographically narrower.
• ASEANAPOL: ASEAN Chiefs of National Police forum for police cooperation across Southeast Asia. Coordinates cross-border crime operations among ASEAN member states. Comparable to INTERPOL at regional level, with regular joint operations and database-sharing arrangements.
• CARICOM IMPACS: Implementation Agency for Crime and Security of the Caribbean Community, coordinating regional responses to crime and security across Caribbean states. Comparable regional-scale police cooperation body, often partnering with INTERPOL on cross-border Caribbean operations.

Others

• International Criminal Court (ICC): Permanent international tribunal for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. INTERPOL has issued Red Notices at ICC's request. Comparable in intergovernmental legal structure but distinct mandate (prosecution vs. coordination).

Emerging players

• Egmont Group: International body of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) facilitating cooperation on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. Comparable intergovernmental model and overlap with INTERPOL on financial crime (overlap with INTERPOL's Financial Crime program and Silver Notice asset recovery).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/INTERPOL_HQ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/INTERPOLHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/InterpolHQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interpol
• Instagraminstagram.com/interpol_hq

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about INTERPOL