Review

This scientific opinion provides a comprehensive review of the procedure for issuing Interpol Red Notices for persons suspected or convicted of crimes. Key findings include:

Competent Authority: The Interpol General Secretariat (IGS) issues Red Notices; national law-enforcement agencies merely initiate the process via their National Central Bureau (NCB).

Competent Authority: The Interpol General Secretariat (IGS) issues Red Notices; national law-enforcement agencies merely initiate the process via their National Central Bureau (NCB).

Step-by-Step Process: Issuance of a national prosecutorial or investigative order to seek the individual; Submission by the NCB to the IGS with required documents (crime description, legal provisions, arrest warrant, etc.); IGS verification against Interpol Rules on Information Processing; IGS publication of the Red Notice in its database; Notification of the NCB and all member countries.

Step-by-Step Process:

Issuance of a national prosecutorial or investigative order to seek the individual;

Issuance of a national prosecutorial or investigative order to seek the individual;

Submission by the NCB to the IGS with required documents (crime description, legal provisions, arrest warrant, etc.);

Submission by the NCB to the IGS with required documents (crime description, legal provisions, arrest warrant, etc.);

IGS verification against Interpol Rules on Information Processing;

IGS verification against Interpol Rules on Information Processing;

IGS publication of the Red Notice in its database;

IGS publication of the Red Notice in its database;

Notification of the NCB and all member countries.

Notification of the NCB and all member countries.

Moment of Listing: A person is formally “listed” when the IGS publishes the Red Notice; the listing is activated when it is distributed to all member NCBs.

Moment of Listing: A person is formally “listed” when the IGS publishes the Red Notice; the listing is activated when it is distributed to all member NCBs.

Mandatory Prerequisite: A national arrest order is required to initiate the request, but its validity for Red Notice issuance depends on supporting evidence (documents or database extracts).

Mandatory Prerequisite: A national arrest order is required to initiate the request, but its validity for Red Notice issuance depends on supporting evidence (documents or database extracts).

Judicial Warrant Not Required for Listing: A court decision ordering detention is not mandatory for Red Notice publication, though it is necessary to impose pretrial custody nationally.

Judicial Warrant Not Required for Listing: A court decision ordering detention is not mandatory for Red Notice publication, though it is necessary to impose pretrial custody nationally.

Definition of International Wanted Status: A coordinated set of procedural, investigative and administrative measures across several countries under Interpol auspices.

Definition of International Wanted Status: A coordinated set of procedural, investigative and administrative measures across several countries under Interpol auspices.

This framework ensures both legal certainty and compliance with Interpol’s global information-sharing standards.