The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) is an international organization that links law enforcement authorities from 195 member states. It is often misunderstood that Interpol does not carry out investigations itself and has no authority to arrest people. Rather, the organization serves as an international network for the exchange of information between states and as a global database to prosecute cross-border crimes more effectively and locate fugitive suspects worldwide.

The best-known Interpol mechanisms are the „Interpol Red Notices“ and the associated „Most-Wanted List,“ which is freely available to the public on the Interpol website and shows a selection of persons wanted by one of the 195 member states through a Red Notice. If you worry about being targeted by Interpol, do not hesitate to contact our team at Schlun & Elseven.

Interpol was founded in 1923. Its headquarters is in Lyon, France. Currently, all 195 states globally that the United Nations recognizes as states are also part of Interpol. Interpol operates in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. The organization consists of a General Secretariat in Lyon, run by the Secretary-General and National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in each member state, which national police officials run. All member states are brought together at the annual General Assembly. The General Secretariat works from the headquarters in Lyon, the Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, and more regional bureaus, and it has civilians and police officials working for it. Therefore, Interpol is not a law enforcement agency but an organization connecting police through nations.

Most of Interpol’s budget is generated through obligatory annual contributions from member countries and voluntary funding from government agencies, private entities, foundations, and international organizations.

Interpol focuses on public safety and fighting transnational crime by making communication between national law enforcement agencies possible, safe, and easily accessible. To support that, Interpol manages 19 police databases that are secure and accessible to all member states in real-time. These databases contain information on criminals, such as names, photos, and fingerprints.  

Furthermore, the organization aims to assist member states‘ police departments to work more efficiently by working together and  

• Exchanging information between the states  
• Coordinating border crossing investigations, thus helping states to work together  
• Identifying patterns by gathering and analyzing data about international crime  
• Providing training and guidance on new methods of investigation through experts in various fields  

The agency focuses its work mentioned above on these three areas of transnational crime that it deems most pressing:  

• targeting organized crime and analyzing emerging crime and threats,
• attacking cybercrime and making the cyberspace a safer place, 
• Obstructing and preventing terrorist activity.  

However, Interpol’s best-known and most effective tool is the Notice System, particularly the Red Notice. The Notice System includes several alerts with different purposes. Our experienced extradition lawyers are by your side to help you challenge any Interpol Notice you might be subject of.

The major criticism of Interpol is the misuse of Red Notices. According to its constitution, Interpol seeks to remain politically neutral, which is also why it states that politically motivated Red Notices are not permitted. The same applies to Red Notices that are predominantly military, religious, or racial in character. Yet there have been several cases in which Interpol has released Red Notices that contradict Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution. Interpol has also been criticized for an untransparent reviewing process in the issuance of notices. If you suspect that your Interpol red notice is politically motivated, we might be able to remove it for you. Contact us now.

Our team has extensive experience in the removal of red notices. If you suspect yourself of being targeted by Interpol, immediate legal support is essential. At Schlun & Elseven, we thoroughly analyze the grounds for the Interpol Diffusion or Notice, assess its validity and point out potential legal flaws. Based on our findings, we strive to expedite the removal process by actively engaging with Interpol, stating your case effectively and offering you the necessary support and guidance during these complex times.