INTERPOL Statement at the Plenary during the Hanoi
Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention against
Cybercrime
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of INTERPOL, I wish to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to the Government
and people of Viet Nam for their warm hospitality and for hosting this historic event. INTERPOL has
witnessed Viet Nam’s strong commitment to combating cybercrime, with two of its officers seconded
to the Cybercrime Directorate and actively supporting investigations across the region and globally.

Five years ago, the international community came together to take a decisive stand against
cybercrime – and INTERPOL was there. The adoption of the Convention last December marked more
than a step forward; it was a clear expression of our shared determination to make the world safer.

Today, as we witness its signing, INTERPOL stands here once again, alongside all partners,
ready to turn this agreement into action. With 196 member countries united under one mandate,
INTERPOL remains where information meets action, where police connect beyond borders, and where
cooperation delivers real impact.

INTERPOL is proud to have been part of the consultations and elaboration process that led to
this achievement. The Convention holds profound significance for us and the global law enforcement
community for two main reasons:

First, the Convention provides an enhanced legal and operational foundation for coordinated
global action against cybercrime. It promotes harmonization in the criminalization of cyber offenses, sets procedural rules for sharing of electronic evidence and strengthens international cooperation, – prevention and technical assistance.

Second, the Convention anchors INTERPOL as a central platform for international cooperation,
through direct references under Chapter Five of the Convention, specifically in articles 37, 40, 41 and
47. These articles cover the provisions on extradition, mutual legal assistance, law enforcement
cooperation and 24/7 networks for police cooperation on computer-related crime.

Together, these elements reinforce INTERPOL’s role in supporting the Convention’s effective
implementation worldwide.

To this end, I am pleased to inform you that the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly, to be held
in Marrakech, Morocco (24–27 November 2025), will consider a resolution titled “Supporting the
Ratification and Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and Promoting
the Role of INTERPOL.” This resolution aims to support the entry into force of the Convention and
provide our member countries with INTERPOL’s tools, networks, operational support, and capacitybuilding resources to implement the Convention effectively.

Excellencies,

Allow me to outline how INTERPOL supports member countries in the fight against cybercrime.
At the core of INTERPOL’s work is I-24/7, its secure global communication system now being
upgraded to Nexus. It enables law enforcement agencies worldwide to exchange information securely
and access INTERPOL’s 19 police databases and analytical files containing nearly 180 million records
on wanted persons, stolen property, weapons, and biometrics. In 2024 alone, these databases were
searched over 8 billion times – about 258 searches per second – reflecting the trust and scale of our
network.

Information is the backbone of policing. It drives all major activities of the Organization—from
coordinating cross-border operations and providing investigative support to strengthening law
enforcement capacity and delivering strategic threat analyses.

In today’s digital age, information is vital to combating cybercrime, one of the fastest-evolving
global threats. Through our Cybercrime Directorate, INTERPOL works with Member Countries and
private partners to disrupt networks and protect victims. Operation Serengeti 2.0 (June–August 2025) brought together investigators from 18 African countries and the UK, leading to over 1,200 arrests, the
recovery of nearly USD 10 million, and the dismantling of 11,432 malicious infrastructures—
safeguarding 88,000 victims whose livelihoods and identities had been exploited online.

Cybercrime is often intertwined with financial crime, as criminals seek to launder or reinvest
illicit profits. INTERPOL targets this financial backbone to weaken transnational networks. The Silver
Notice pilot enables the tracing and freezing of criminal proceeds, including those from cyber-enabled
crimes. In April 2025, the United Kingdom issued the first Silver Notice to recover over £8.5 million
from a convicted fraudster.

At the same time, INTERPOL works to shield the most vulnerable from online abuse. Through
the International Child Sexual Exploitation (ICSE) database, investigators in more than 70 countries can
securely share and analyze evidence, accelerating victim identification. This tool has already helped
identify over 50,000 victims and 22,000 offenders, preventing further harm and bringing offenders to
justice.

Excellencies,

INTERPOL looks forward to continuing working with its 196 Member Countries, the UNODC
and other relevant stakeholders to put the Convention into effective implementation.

Together, we strive to create a cyberspace that’s a domain of trust, safety, and opportunity for
all.

Thank you.