ED’s INTERPOL Purple Notice Targets Global Trade-Based Money Laundering

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a groundbreaking step by issuing its first INTERPOL Purple Notice, specifically designed to address a sophisticated trade-based money laundering (TBML) operation. The notice, released on August 21, 2025, is a key element in India’s strategy to combat transnational financial crime. The Purple Notice, distributed to all 196 INTERPOL member countries by the General Secretariat in Lyon, offers detailed intelligence on the techniques used by criminal networks engaged in TBML. This includes insights into their methods of operation, the instruments they utilize, and the concealment strategies they employ. The notice is not an arrest warrant but serves as a crucial mechanism for informing international agencies about illegal activities, encouraging the timely sharing of information. The ED’s investigation uncovered a network of shell companies both within India and internationally, exploiting trade practices and banking systems to launder funds. These practices involved under-invoicing of imports, manipulating duty-free imports like semiconductors, creating false documentation, and employing circular re-exports to conceal the illicit financial flows.