What Exactly is INTERPOL?

You may have heard the name INTERPOL mentioned in movies or TV shows, usually with the backdrop of some foreign locale, but what is this organization, and why is it only mentioned in connection with some type of international crime?

INTERPOL stands for International Criminal Police Organization. It’s just what the name implies, an international police organization with 194 countries as members of the organization. Its role is to help police around the world fight crime. INTERPOL also acts to bridge the gap between the laws of different countries, even if those countries don’t have diplomatic relations. It’s second only to the United Nations as an organization with the most international representation.

INTERPOL has three main crime programs; counter-terrorism, organized and emerging crimes, and cybercrime. These programs cover investigations into organized crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, money laundering, counterfeiting, human trafficking, environmental crimes, corruption, cybercrime, and public safety. But contrary to what Hollywood would lead you to believe, INTERPOL does not have agents, they do not make arrests or carry guns, and they don’t cross borders to investigate a crime. The organization exists to facilitate cooperation between different law enforcement entities and to disseminate information.