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Interpol Red Notices
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An Interpol Red Notice is the closest instrument to an
international
arrest warrant in use today. Interpol (the International Criminal Police
Organization) circulates notices to member countries listing persons who are
wanted for extradition. The names of persons listed in the notices are
placed
on lookout lists (e.g., NCIC or its foreign counterpart). When a person
whose
name is listed comes to the attention of the police abroad, the country that
sought the listing is notified through Interpol and can request either his
provisional arrest (if there is urgency) or can file a formal request for
extradition.
Please be aware that if a Red Notice is issued, the prosecutor's
office
is obligated to do whatever work is required to produce the necessary
extradition
documents within the time limits prescribed by the controlling extradition
treaty
whenever and wherever the fugitive is arrested. Further, the prosecutor's
office
is obliged to pay the expenses pursuant to the controlling treaty. Those
expenses, which can be quite high, will typically include the costs of
translating the extradition documents and may include the costs of hiring
local
counsel to represent the United States. Further, these obligations, which
remain
until the fugitive is arrested or the Red Notice is withdrawn, may result in
prosecutors who have succeeded the Assistant United States Attorney who
originally requested the Red Notice having to prepare the documents and
arrange
for payment of hefty fees years after the fugitive originally fled from the
United States. Therefore, it is important for prosecutors to make certain
that
the case is significant enough to warrant placing their offices under such a
burden in deciding whether or not to request issuance of a Red Notice.
[cited in USAM 9-15.635] | |