LONDON — The global police organization Interpol has announced that Brazilian police official Valdecy Urquiza will assume the role of chief. This decision was made public on Tuesday after Urquiza was elected as the new secretary-general during Interpol’s general assembly meeting taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. He is set to officialize his position once the assembly concludes on Thursday.
Currently holding the position of vice president for the Americas at Interpol, Urquiza marks a significant shift for the organization, as he becomes the first leader based in Lyon, France, not originating from Europe or the United States. The secretary-general plays a crucial role in overseeing the organization’s daily operations, a position that has remained under the leadership of Jürgen Stock from Germany since 2014. Due to the rules governing the organization, Stock is unable to pursue a third term.
Urquiza has expressed a commitment to enhancing diversity within Interpol, emphasizing that a robust organization should encompass a wide range of viewpoints. He articulated his belief that embracing and valuing diverse perspectives leads to a more thorough and effective strategy for tackling global security issues.
With its membership spanning 196 countries and having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, Interpol facilitates communication among national police forces, assisting them in tracking down suspects and addressing crimes across various domains, including counterterrorism, financial misconduct, child exploitation, cyber threats, and organized crime.
Despite being the world’s largest police entity, Interpol faces numerous challenges, including an escalating number of cybercrimes and incidents of child sexual abuse, alongside growing rifts among its member nations. Last year, Interpol operated on a budget of approximately 176 million euros (around $188 million), which contrasts with the European Union’s police agency, Europol, with a budget exceeding 200 million euros, and the FBI in the United States, which has a budget of about $11 billion.