Many mistakenly believe that Interpol has the power to detain individuals anywhere in the world. In reality, the Organization does not have its own arrest forces and cannot independently apprehend suspects.
However, a Red Notice can lead to an arrest in another country—making it crucial to understand your rights and defense options. If you have been listed in Interpol’s databases or face extradition, act immediately! Our team is ready to provide comprehensive legal assistance: we will check whether your name appears in Interpol’s databases, challenge an unlawful Red Notice, and protect you from extradition and illegal detention.
How Does Interpol Work?
Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization, coordinating law enforcement agencies in over 190 countries. Its main goal is to facilitate information exchange and assist in combating transnational crime.
The Interpol General Secretariat, headquartered in Lyon, France, is responsible for the organization’s operational management and coordination. It processes requests from national bureaus, issues notices, and manages databases and technological systems.
Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB) that connects Interpol with local law enforcement agencies. NCBs handle information exchange, arrest requests, and suspect data verification. This system ensures that each country independently decides on detentions or searches, while Interpol simply facilitates coordination.
The I-24/7 network is a secure global communication system developed by Interpol for real-time information exchange between national bureaus and the General Secretariat. This system allows immediate checks on suspects, vehicles, documents, fingerprints, and other crucial data.
A Red Notice is Interpol’s most well-known tool, warning about a dangerous wanted individual. However, it is not an arrest warrant—it merely alerts law enforcement agencies in other countries about an active search.
The Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database contains information on stolen or lost passports and identity documents.
The Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) ensures compliance with human rights and data protection regulations. If an individual believes they are being persecuted for political reasons or that their data has been wrongly included, they can appeal to the CCF to challenge the notice.
What Is Interpol Jurisdiction?
Interpol is often perceived as a global police force capable of arresting criminals anywhere in the world. However, this is not entirely accurate.
Interpol officers do not have the authority to arrest anyone directly. Arrest decisions are made by national authorities based on domestic law, which may use Interpol notices as grounds for tracking a suspect.
Interpol maintains global databases on wanted criminals, stolen documents, fingerprints, and more. Through the I-24/7 system, police forces worldwide can quickly exchange information, significantly speeding up the identification and capture of individuals crossing international borders.
Interpol’s most well-known tool, the Red Notice, signals to law enforcement agencies that a person is wanted for a serious crime. However, it is not an international arrest warrant. Any arrest must be conducted in accordance with the national laws of the country where the suspect is located. All types of notices serve as alerts to national bureaus rather than direct enforcement actions.
What Does Interpol Do?
Interpol’s primary mission is to support and coordinate national police efforts to enhance the efficiency and speed of fighting transnational crime.
The organization facilitates continuous exchange of operational data between law enforcement agencies, helping track suspects, monitor their movements, and dismantle international criminal networks.
Interpol maintains a vast set of information resources. The stolen and lost document database helps prevent individuals from traveling with fake or stolen passports. The fingerprint, DNA, and firearm databases assist in suspect identification and evidence matching across different cases.
Interpol deploys expert teams to assist in investigations of major or complex crimes. It provides analytical reports, consultations, and technical support, helping countries implement advanced investigative techniques. Through Green and Yellow Notices, Interpol also coordinates efforts to rescue victims of human trafficking, missing persons, and abducted children.
According to its Constitution, Interpol does not intervene in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial nature. Each country independently decides how to respond to Interpol notices based on its own laws and procedures.
Our Legal Services
Our law firm specializes in handling cases related to Interpol notices, international searches, and extradition. We offer consultations, legal assistance in verifying notices, and protection of client interests in cases of detention abroad.
Can INTERPOL Make Arrests in the U.S.?
Popular question: “Can INTEPROL arrest anyone?” The simple answer is no — INTERPOL does not have the authority to make arrests in the United States or anywhere else. INTERPOL, or the International Criminal Police Organization, is not a law enforcement agency and does not operate like national police forces. However, you can get arrested at the airport, or while crossing the border, if you have outstanding warrant.
INTERPOL’s primary role is to assist in the exchange of information between national police forces. It issues various types of notices, including Red Notices, which are requests to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. However, these notices are not international arrest warrants and do not compel any country to act on them.
How INTERPOL Operates
INTERPOL operates an international notice system for member states to share crucial information, including publishing Red Notices. A Red Notice is a request from one member state to others for assistance in locating and arresting individuals involved in criminal activities for extradition.
The Red Notice list, available on INTERPOL’s official website, is expanding. While INTERPOL circulates these notices, the requesting member state seeks assistance in locating a wanted person. It’s important to understand that this system is voluntary.
No member state is legally forced to arrest anybody based on the Red Notice or an INTERPOL diffusion. The agency notes that each member state can decide the legal value they give Red Notices within their borders.
Which Are INTERPOL’s Member States?
INTERPOL, the largest global police organization, comprises 195 member countries. These members collaborate with the General Secretariat to exchange vital police investigation data. Each country has an INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) connecting its national police to this worldwide network.
The NCB handles Red Notice requests, ensuring they are correctly prepared and that member countries comply with INTERPOL’s rules when uploading information into the agency’s system.
To know if your country is a member state, check INTERPOL’s official website, where all the countries are outlined.
What Are INTERPOL’s Crime Programs?
INTERPOL offers its member countries unique policing expertise and capabilities, adapting to evolving crimes through ongoing research in global crime trends. It supports three main crime programs, which are:
· Counter-terrorism
INTERPOL assists the member state in preventing and disrupting any terrorist activities by helping identify the individuals, networks, and associates involved.
· Organized and emerging crimes
INTERPOL assists in targeting and disrupting international criminal networks. It helps in identifying, analyzing, and responding to any criminal threats.
· Cybercrime
INTERPOL assists in preventing and investigating cybercrime, which is rampant nowadays. Also, it helps make cyberspace safe for its member countries.
Today’s major crimes are global, requiring states to coordinate for security. As a global entity, INTERPOL facilitates cooperation and allows police forces to work directly, even between countries without diplomatic relations.
Can INTERPOL target specific individuals?
Yes, INTERPOL can target specific individuals through its member country network. Member countries can issue a Red Notice requesting INTERPOL’s help to locate and arrest individuals wanted for crimes, with the aim of extradition or similar legal action.
However, it’s important to note that the actual execution of arrests is the responsibility of the respective country’s national law enforcement authorities. INTERPOL acts as a facilitator by disseminating information and coordinating the efforts of member countries in pursuing individuals who are the subject of Red Notices.
Conclusion
INTERPOL doesn’t have the power to make arrests anywhere in the world. Instead, it helps member states by offering investigative support, such as removing red notice, forensics, and analysis, while helping locate fugitives worldwide. The member states have the jurisdictions as per their country’s laws on the value placed on the Red Notice list within their borders.
