The International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as Interpol, is an international organization connecting law enforcement authorities across 195 member states. A common misconception is that Interpol operates as a global police force. In reality, Interpol does not carry out investigations itself and has no authority to arrest individuals. Instead, it functions as an international network for the secure exchange of information between national law enforcement agencies, supporting the prosecution of cross-border crimes and the location of fugitive suspects worldwide.
Interpol’s best-known tools are its Notice System and the associated Most Wanted List, a publicly accessible selection of individuals wanted by one of its member states through a Red Notice. If you are concerned about being targeted by Interpol, contact our team at Schlun & Elseven without delay.

Interpol was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Lyon, France. All 195 states recognized by the United Nations are currently members of the organization. Interpol operates in four official languages: English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
The organization consists of a General Secretariat in Lyon, led by the Secretary-General, and National Central Bureaus (NCBs) in each member state, which are run by national police officials. Member states convene annually at the General Assembly. In addition to its Lyon headquarters, the General Secretariat operates the Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore and several regional bureaus. Interpol employs both civilians and police officials. It is therefore not a law enforcement agency but an organization that connects and supports national police forces across the world.
Interpol’s budget is generated primarily through obligatory annual contributions from member countries, supplemented by 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 by

• 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 and
• providing training and guidance on new methods of investigation through experts in various fields.

Interpol focuses its work on three areas of transnational crime it considers most pressing: organized crime and emerging criminal threats, cybercrime and the security of digital space, and the prevention of terrorist activity.

Interpol’s most widely used and most impactful tool is its Notice System. Notices are alerts issued to member states for a variety of law enforcement purposes. The most significant of these for individuals is the Red Notice. Our extradition lawyers are available to help you challenge any Interpol Notice you may be subject to.

A significant and well-documented criticism of Interpol concerns the misuse of Red Notices by member states. Interpol’s constitution requires the organization to remain politically neutral and explicitly prohibits Red Notices that are predominantly political, military, religious, or racial in character. Despite this, there have been documented cases in which notices contradicting Article 3 of Interpol’s Constitution have been approved. Interpol has furthermore been criticized for a lack of transparency in its notice review process, making it difficult for individuals to challenge unlawful notices effectively.
If you suspect that a Red Notice issued against you is politically motivated or otherwise non-compliant with Interpol’s rules, our lawyers may be able to have it removed. Contact us now to discuss your case.

If you suspect you are being targeted by Interpol, immediate legal support is essential. Our team has extensive experience in challenging and removing Interpol Notices and Diffusions. We thoroughly analyze the grounds for the notice, assess its validity, identify any legal flaws, and engage actively with Interpol to expedite the removal process. We provide the necessary support and guidance at every stage of these complex proceedings.