GENEVA, Switzerland / RankWire.AI / – INTERPOL and the World Health Organization have signed a cooperation agreement to tackle threats at the intersection of public health and security. The deal sets up a framework that combines INTERPOL’s law enforcement expertise with WHO’s public health leadership to prevent, detect and respond to risks that endanger lives. WHO announced the agreement on October 16 in a release issued from Geneva and Lyon. The pact covers health emergencies, mass gatherings, organ trafficking, illicit goods and tobacco control.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said crime and health are increasingly interconnected. He cited falsified medical products and the exploitation of vulnerable people as risks created by criminal networks. Urquiza said the agreement strengthens INTERPOL’s ability to work with WHO to protect communities. He added that it will help bring those who threaten them to justice. INTERPOL has 196 member countries and is the world’s largest international police organisation. It runs global police databases and provides forensic, analysis and training support.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said health security is global security. He said deeper collaboration with INTERPOL reinforces the collective ability to prevent harm and respond to emergencies. Tedros said the partnership will also protect people from threats that undermine health systems and public trust. WHO is the United Nations agency for health and works in more than 150 locations. The agreement links that public health network with INTERPOL’s police channels.
Emergency response and mass gatherings in focus
The agreement first targets exceptional situations that require coordinated health and security action. These include incidents involving the suspected misuse of chemical or radioactive materials. They also include unusual biological events, whether naturally occurring, accidental or deliberate. In such cases, health officials and police often need to share information quickly. The framework is designed to support that joint response. WHO has also warned of rising cholera deaths in recent years, showing how quickly health emergencies can grow.
The two organisations will also coordinate efforts around major international events and mass gatherings. The aim is to help countries better prepare for and respond to potential health threats in high-visibility settings. Large sporting, religious and cultural events can bring big crowds into confined spaces. INTERPOL’s General Assembly approved the draft agreement at its 92nd session in Glasgow in November 2024. The assembly also authorised the Secretary General to sign it.
Organ trafficking and illicit goods targeted
A second area of cooperation targets the trafficking of persons for the purpose of organ removal. It also covers the illegal trade in human organs, tissues and cells. The pact also addresses illicit goods that directly affect public health. WHO listed falsified medicines, vaccines and medical devices among these products. Counterfeit protective equipment, unsafe or fraudulently labelled food and drink and illegally produced alcohol are also included. Authorities have warned that criminal groups are using new tools to expand fraud and other illicit activity.
Cooperation will also support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The treaty entered into force in 2005 and now has more than 180 parties. Through joint efforts, the two organisations will help countries identify these threats and protect consumers. They will also reinforce international frameworks designed to keep people safe. No timetable for the first joint operations was announced. The agreement now gives police and health authorities a formal basis to act together on cross-border risks.