Interpol Most Wanted List

Being the recipient of a Red Notice can have serious consequences. Therefore, it is essential to understand the reasons why a Red Notice is issued and how our extradition law team can help those affected defend themselves.

A Red Notice is requested by an Interpol member state to determine the whereabouts of a wanted person and to detain them for extradition. The request must be supported by evidence that supports the seriousness of the allegations and must contain personal information such as the name, date of birth and nationality of the suspect, as well as information about the crime committed. Red Notices are excluded for crimes that do not exceed a certain minimum sentence and for a group of offences summarized in a list by Interpol. This list includes, for example, prostitution, possession of drugs for personal use, adultery or homosexual acts.

After an in-depth analysis of the situation and review of the existing evidence, we compile the information that is new and relevant to Interpol, based on which the General Secretariat will re-evaluate the request and, if it does not comply with the rules and the Interpol Constitution, delete it and remove it from all national databases.

As already mentioned, not all circulating Red Notices are published on the Interpol website or elsewhere. In addition, there are other Interpol Notices apart from the Red Notice and there are so-called “Diffusions“. None of these requests are open to the public. Therefore, a formal request to Interpol is essential to ensure whether you are being sought through the Interpol network.

• Interpol Blue Notices are designed to uncover additional information about a person’s identity, previous convictions, current location or activities related to a crime. The Blue Notice can be issued before criminal charges are filed. A person subject to an Interpol Blue Notice must not have been convicted of the offense in question. Recipients of a Blue Notice can be used as witnesses or informants in preparing criminal proceedings to provide further information.
• The purpose of an Interpol Green Notice is for police authorities to warn each other about a person’s criminal activity. The Interpol Green Notice can contain as much information as is relevant to the case. The subject of a Green Notice is often a person who has already committed a crime, and there are indications that they will commit a crime again. These cases often involve serial sexual offences.
• Interpol Orange Notices are issued in particular when national police authorities warn each other about an event, an object, a course of action or a specific person.
• Interpol Purple Notices are used to collect information about the activities of a criminal or a criminal group. Police forces are asked to obtain information about the items and equipment a criminal group might use and where they are hidden. Purple Notices are primarily used in cases of piracy or poaching to locate ships or similar objects.
• Interpol Diffusions work similarly to Red Notices. They also serve to locate a person and are regularly issued if there is not enough evidence for a Red Notice. The unique feature of diffusions is that they can be circulated independently by the member states via the Interpol network and do not have to be submitted to the General Secretariat beforehand to be reviewed. This increases the risk of potential misuse.

It is important to note that neither appearance on the Interpol Most Wanted List nor an unpublished notice or diffusion automatically means that the person in question is guilty. There are regular cases in which allegations have been made based on incorrect information or political motives. It is, therefore, very possible that people appear on the list incorrectly.

In a confrontation with an Interpol Notice or Diffusion, assistance from an experienced law firm is critical to ensuring a fair and equitable defence. Our extradition lawyers analyse and review the evidence that led to the issuance of the Red Notice and develop a compelling defence strategy. Our lawyers also assist in communicating with foreign law enforcement authorities and Interpol authorities themselves to clarify any misunderstandings and ensure that your rights are respected. Our team at Schlun & Elseven is available to support you in Interpol matters and defend your rights. Contact us through our secure contact form now.