FAQ EN

A red notice is a request made to law enforcement agencies around the world to locate and arrest an individual pending surrender, extradition, or other legal action. A red notice is not an arrest warrant. Financial institutions craft their own policies and procedures regarding risk management, red notices, and client accounts. A customer may not be aware of the Red Notice, and the financial institution can close that customer’s account. Most banks and other financial institutions inform their clients in writing upon the establishment of the relationship that the financial institution has the authority to close the account at any time for any reason. A customer may have to bring legal action to acquire their funds.

It is important to understand that INTERPOL does not have its own officers who operate as police officers. INTERPOL offers investigative support and secure communications between law enforcement authorities and their counterparts in 190 INTERPOL member countries. INTERPOL also maintains databases, services, and resources. INTERPOL assistance and resources are generally available only through the law enforcement authorities and National Central Bureaus of its member countries.

INTERPOL has 195 member countries, and it is the globe’s largest police organization. All member countries work together with the General Secretariat and share information related to police investigations. Every member country has a National Central Bureau which connects national police in a global network. Member countries also come together at the annual Global Assembly to make policy decisions. Some member countries may have less resources than other countries, but INTERPOL operates as an efficient global organization.

A red notice is an international alert to find the location of a wanted person and arrest the wanted person for extradition. Interpol red notices are valid for five years except when the alerts are withdrawn by the issuing state or by the General Secretariat of Interpol. The nature and grounds of a removal request will be different from every other request. You cannot file an appeal against a decision of the CCF.

International extradition is a legal process in which the requesting country seeks from the requested country the surrender of an individual who is wanted for prosecution, or to serve a sentence following conviction for a criminal offense. Extradition practice depends on the individual countries involved in the legal process. In most cases, extradition consists of an executive phase and a judicial phase. The case enters the judicial phase after an individual has been arrested in the requested country. A court will decide if the extradition request satisfies the requirements of the applicable extradition treaty and the law of the requested country. The judicial ruling and the executive decision to surrender the wanted person may be subject to multiple levels of appeal.

You may be required to return to a specific state or country for criminal proceedings. You will likely attend a probable cause hearing, and you could spend time incarcerated while the extradition process is ongoing. Every extradition case is unique, and it may be necessary, given the facts of your case, to retain both a criminal defense lawyer and an immigration lawyer. Consulting with a skilled criminal defense lawyer will help you determine if you need to also retain a lawyer who specializes in immigration law.

Only prosecuting authorities may initiate an extradition request. The request is typically made after charges are filed and a court issues an arrest warrant. Any country may fulfill or deny any extradition request. Cooperating with an extradition request may result in violations of human rights and individual freedoms. Countries may strive to cooperate with one another without infringing on the rights of citizens. Several countries will deny extradition requests if the crime charged in the requesting state is not considered a crime in the sending state, if the suspect has already been tried for the crime in another place, or if the crime is a capital offence in the requesting country.