The Interpol, officially known as the International Criminal Police Organization, is a body that facilitates cooperation among police forces of its member states to combat international crime. It enables police forces to share critical information related to criminal activities.

While the Interpol does not have the authority to make arrests directly, it can issue red notices. These red notices serve as requests for police authorities in member countries to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition or surrender.

It’s important to note that a red notice is not an arrest warrant issued by Interpol itself; rather, it is based on an arrest warrant or court order from the judicial authorities in the requesting country. Member states, like the Philippines, have a legal obligation to cooperate with Interpol’s operations, which include sharing data pertinent to police investigations.

Here are the Interpol’s several key roles:

• Routing Arrest Warrants: The Interpol is responsible for routing arrest warrants and can request a country’s government for the arrest or custody of individuals who fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
• Issuing Red Notices: The Interpol issues red notices to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal actions. These notices are based on arrest warrants or court orders issued by judicial authorities in the requesting country.
• International Police Cooperation: The Interpol coordinates law enforcement efforts among the police forces of its member states to manage suspects and combat international crime.

The Interpol plays a crucial role in enhancing global security by enabling cooperation among police forces across different nations.

Editors’ Note: This was produced with assistance from Rai, Rappler’s AI chatbot, that sources information from Rappler’s articles.