INTERPOL Elects Brazil’s Valdecy Urquiza, as New Secretary-General
The INTERPOL Secretary-General is responsible for the day-to-day decision making and functioning of all General Secretariat duty stations around the World
By R Anil Kumar
Glasgow, Scotland, November 6. Brazil’s Valdecy Urquiza has been elected the new Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, during the Organisation’s 92nd General Assembly held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Urquiza’s election to the post of Secretary-General, marks a significant milestone as he will be the first person from a developing country to hold this position since INTERPOL’s founding in 1923.
Urquiza will officially assume office on November 7, suceeding Jürgen Stock, who served the Organisation for a decade.
Valdecy Urquiza is presently a Federal Police Commissioner in Brazil and has extensive experience in International Policing. He has served as the Director of International Cooperation at the Brazilian Federal Police and has been involved with INTERPOL as its Vice President for the Americas since 2021.
Valdecy Urquiza’s prior role includes leading National Central Bureau of INTERPOL and working at INTERPOL’s headquarters in Lyon, France.
Urquiza holds a Law degree and multiple Post-graduate degrees including one from the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI National Academy.
Valdecy Urquiza in his acceptance remarks emphasized his commitment to fostering equality and diversity within INTERPOL and aims to enhance collaboration among all the 196 member countries to improve investigations and Operations, while addressing regional policing challenges.
“My Commitment is to shape an INTERPOL that doesn’t just meet today’s demands, but anticipates and prepares for the challenges of tomorrow,” Urquiza stated.
Valdecy Urquiza election was notably supported by various countries, including India, reflecting a broad coalition backing his candidacy. His leadership is expected to focus on strengthening International cooperation against transitional crime, while maintaining INTERPOL’s neutrality amidst geopolitical tensions.
While Urquiza’s election is seen as a progressive step for INTERPOL, it also comes with challenges. Critics express concern about potential political influences within the Organisation, particularly how it handles requests from member states known for abusing their INTERPOL privileges. The effectiveness of Urquiza’s leadership will depend on navigating these complexities while implementing reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and integrity within INTERPOL Operations.
The role of Secretary-General in the INTERPOL: The INTERPOL Secretary-General is responsible for the day-to-day decision making and functioning of all General Secretariat duty stations around the world, which also includes supervising all policing activities, expertise, databases and services that the INTERPOL provides to its 196 member countries in support of the fight against International crimes.
With a significant rise in transitional crime INTERPOL’s work has never been so important as now
Urquiza joins the INTERPOL at a critical moment when the world is grappling with the rise in security challenges, internal and cross-border conflicts, declining adherence to human rights, organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism and the world losing the fight against the globalisation of crime.
The potential of gangs, cartels and organised crime groups is limitless. These trillion-dollar Organisations can destabilise even the safest and most prosperous countries. The INTERPOL has to take on these challenges, prioritise tackling organised crime, no safe havens for criminals and terrorists, Invest in technology for police, increase International cooperation and support for law enforcement and so on.
