WHO and INTERPOL sign pact linking public health and law enforcement
The organisations will coordinate on falsified medicines, biological and radiological incidents, organ trafficking and health risks at mass gatherings.
The World Health Organization and INTERPOL have signed a cooperation agreement designed to strengthen joint responses where public health and security threats overlap. The framework combines WHO’s health expertise with INTERPOL’s law-enforcement network across 196 member countries.
The agreement covers exceptional incidents involving suspected misuse of chemical or radioactive materials and unusual biological events, whether natural, accidental or deliberate. It also provides for coordination around major international events and mass gatherings, where countries may need integrated health, policing and emergency planning.
Another strand targets crimes that directly undermine health systems and vulnerable people. The organisations plan to work together on trafficking for organ removal, illegal trade in organs, tissues and cells, and the production or sale of falsified medicines, vaccines and medical devices. Counterfeit protective equipment, unsafe food and drink and illegally produced alcohol are also included.
The pact also supports implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Better information-sharing and coordinated investigations could help countries identify cross-border networks while improving public-health surveillance and consumer protection.
The agreement establishes a structure for cooperation rather than announcing a single operation or enforcement action. Its value will depend on how quickly member countries exchange usable information, protect due process and convert alerts into prevention and response. The partnership reflects a broader recognition that health emergencies and organised crime can reinforce one another across borders.