Brazilian Valdecy Urquiza new head of Interpol

(Patria) - Brazilian police official Valdecy Urquiza is the new head of Interpol, the organization announced yesterday.

Urquiza was elected Secretary General by a vote of Interpol's General Assembly at a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, and will take over the position on Thursday at the end of the assembly.

Urquiza, currently Vice President of Interpol for the Americas, will be the first head of the organization not to come from Europe or the USA.



He promised to promote diversity within the organization, saying that "a strong Interpol is one that includes everyone".

- When we respect and elevate different perspectives, we gain a clearer, more comprehensive approach to global security - Urquiza stated.

Interpol, an organization with 196 member countries that celebrated its centenary last year, works to help national police forces communicate with each other and track suspects and criminals in areas such as terrorism, financial crime, child pornography, cybercrime, and organized crime.