INTERPOL

INTERPOL is the International Criminal Police Organization that helps police forces in different countries work together. If you hear about an INTERPOL alert or Red Notice on the news, this page explains what that really means, how INTERPOL operates, and what steps you can take if you’re affected.

What INTERPOL does and how it works

INTERPOL is not a global police force. It doesn’t arrest people directly or run criminal trials. Instead, it shares information, issues alerts, and helps national police coordinate cross‑border investigations. Its main tools include databases for fingerprints, stolen property, and wanted persons. Each member country has a National Central Bureau (NCB) that acts as the local contact point with INTERPOL — so any action usually comes through that national office.

When police in one country need help from another, they send requests through INTERPOL channels. That can speed up identifying suspects, recovering stolen items, or tracking stolen vehicles across borders. INTERPOL also runs training, supports cybercrime investigations, and helps coordinate operations where more than one country is involved.

Red Notices, alerts and what they mean for you

A Red Notice is an international request to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It’s not an international arrest warrant that forces any country to act. Each country decides how to treat a Red Notice based on its own laws. That means the legal effect and whether police detain someone can differ from place to place.

If you or someone you know is named in a Red Notice, contact a lawyer right away and reach out to your country’s NCB. They can explain the case, help verify the notice, and advise on next steps like contesting the notice or seeking consular help. If you’re a journalist or researcher, always verify Red Notices via INTERPOL’s public database and check the national judiciary records before reporting.

Be aware of misuse: governments sometimes try to use INTERPOL notices for political reasons. INTERPOL has rules to prevent abuse, but complaints and legal challenges do happen. If you suspect abuse, document everything, consult legal counsel, and consider filing a request to INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files or seek help from human rights groups.

Want to follow INTERPOL news on Africa Daily Spectrum? Use this tag page to find articles, case updates, and practical guides. If you need a quick checklist: verify notices through official INTERPOL channels, contact your NCB, get legal help, and keep records of all communications.

Questions or tips about an INTERPOL case? Send them to our newsroom. We follow developments and report only after verifying with official sources so readers get clear, accurate updates about cross‑border police actions that impact people across Africa and beyond.