Today’s post will address a recent case to exemplify why INTERPOL member countries may choose not to publish certain Red Notices. 

Unpublished Red Notices: a Recent Example

Recently, officials at a Moroccan airport arrested a Tunisian man who was a Red Notice subject and was wanted for suspicion of involvement in a criminal network engaged in forgery, fraud, and car theft. Following the arrest, Moroccan authorities began extradition procedures, coordinating with Tunisian authorities.

When individuals are stopped for Red Notices in a public setting, at the airport or a traffic stop, for example, they are most often caught unware because the requesting member country chose to keep the Notice unpublished. As reported by Disclose in January of this year, less than 10% of the 86,000 Red Notices in circulation are public. 

The purpose behind keeping a Red Notice unpublished is the same as keeping an arrest warrant sealed- if a subject knows she is wanted, she is less likely to travel or place herself in contact with law enforcement authorities. If the wanted status is unknown, the subject is likely to take the risks that can lead to detection, detention, and extradition.

How Know Your Red Notice Status

As stated in a previous post, The most reliable way to confirm whether you are a Red Notice subject is for the potential subject or her attorney to reach out to INTERPOL’s CCF. INTERPOL’s website has a small number of subjects listed publicly, but most of the notices are unpublished and require an inquiry for a definitive answer. 

As always, thoughts and comments are welcomed.