First of all: our team of experienced extradition lawyers will take care of every aspect of your case and lead the challenge to the threat of your personal freedom.

But what is an Interpol Notice? Why is it issued? What exactly is an Interpol Red Notice and how can we get it removed? Our extradition and Interpol lawyers explain further on this page.

An Interpol Red Notice is an efficient measure to locate and arrest individuals sought by national police authorities. As obtaining an Interpol Red Notice can be easy, the number of such Notices increases. But to remove an Interpol Red Notice can still be a complex and lengthy process. To be the subject of an Interpol Red Notice means to be permanently exposed to the risk of getting arrested or extradited.

Therefore, it is even more critical to have a law firm by your side with excellent knowledge and experience in Interpol issues to help you find out whether you are the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. Our extradition lawyers provide comprehensive assistance when seeking Interpol Red Notice removal and the removing of data from Interpol’s database.

An Interpol Red Notice is a request for law enforcement support worldwide. It is not an international arrest warrant. An Interpol Red Notice is issued if someone is suspected of committing a serious crime. Based on the valid national arrest warrant, the other member states are requested to assist in arresting the person and extradite them back to the country where the crime was supposedly committed. Interpol Red Notices are issued by the member states and not by Interpol itself. This means individuals are wanted by a specific member state or international tribunal; Interpol cannot instruct national law enforcement authorities.

Interpol Red Notices allow for alerting police services simultaneously in all member countries to watch for the wanted person and support extradition proceedings. The Interpol Red Notice informs the police forces about the appearance, the personal documentation and the criminal offence the person has been charged with.

If you have an Interpol Red Notice issued against you, you are at the permanent risk of getting arrested and extradited every time. A person affected by an Interpol Red Notice is very likely to get apprehended by law enforcement officials. Sometimes individuals do not even know they are subject to an Interpol Red Notice until they are being arrested.

The ways countries react to an Interpol Red Notice might vary. Each member state can decide what value it gives to an Interpol Red Notice. An Interpol Notice which has not been enforced in one country may lead to arrest in another country.

However, in most cases, individuals are searched, arrested and have to face extradition. Generally, Interpol Red Notices are kept for five years. The country that issued the Interpol Red Noticed can request an earlier withdrawal just as the validity extension. In addition to that, the General Secretary is allowed to withdraw an Interpol Red Notice.

Every Notice must comply with Interpol’s constitution and rules. As Interpol is a democratic organization, they do not have any interest in keeping notices in their databases based on politically or militarily motivated cases. With a special task force, Interpol ensures that every Interpol Red Notice is compliant with its rules. This decision –whether an Interpol Red Notice is issued or not -is based on the information available for Interpol at this particular time. If there is any new information brought to the attention of Interpol, the task force has to re-examine the case.

First Step: We check if a client is subject to an Interpol Red notice

Before challenging a Notice, and determining the plan for Interpol Red Notice removal, we need to check whether such an Interpol Notice exists against the client. In some cases, individuals merely suspect an Interpol Red Notice might have been issued; in other cases, individuals assume the Notice will be given. It is usually arduous to determine whether an Interpol Red Notice has been issued except in cases where the individual has been arrested. Interpol Red Notices are published on the Interpol website, but most of them are only accessible by national and international authorities.

Second Step: If a Red Notice exists, find out why it exists

As already explained, every Interpol Notice issued needs to be compliant with Interpol ́s rules. Therefore, there are many different grounds for challenging an Interpol Notice. If a person believes they are unlikely to receive a fair trial in the country seeking their extradition, they should challenge the order. Furthermore, the case in question needs to be of a criminal nature, and it needs to be evident that, as per international standard, there are sufficient grounds for the prosecution. Thus, political or military motivation can also be a reason for challenging an Interpol Red Notice.

Particularly concerning these cases, the case’s real nature is often not clear, and presenting new information about the motivation or the problems behind the case may not be easy. To have the maximum possible legal assistance can be essential to represent the required evidence.

Third Step: Ask For Removal of The Red Notice

To achieve the removal of an Interpol Red Notice, one has to send a request to the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (the „CFF“). The CFF is the authority that finally decides about the validity of an Interpol Notice. Therefore, the case must be presented as clearly and concisely as possible to achieve the ultimate object – removing the Interpol Red Notice.

It must be pointed out that the presumption of innocence is still in place until a person is proven guilty –regardless of an existing Interpol Red Notice. If a person believes they are not likely to expect a fair trial, they should still challenge the extradition order. The right to receive a fair trial is protected and must be followed in the issuing of Interpol Notices.

There are also several other types of Interpol Notices. Our experienced extradition lawyers are by your side to help you challenge any Interpol Notice you might be subject of. For a more extensive overview click here.