What kind of crimes does Interpol handle?

The International Criminal Police Organization unites 196 member states and operates in accordance with the principles of neutrality and respect for sovereignty. Interpol coordinates actions between law enforcement agencies of other countries, providing them with its databases for information exchange.

Interpol does not deal with minor cases; it gets involved only when it comes to transnational crimes that require the joint efforts of several states to take effective countermeasures. If Interpol has shown interest in you or your business, this is a signal for immediate legal action. Our team will help you understand the essence of the accusations, how to act upon receiving a notice, and how to protect yourself from unlawful prosecution. Act before the situation gets out of control—contact us right now.

Interpol is the largest international structure in the world, engaged in coordinating law enforcement agencies of different countries in the fight against transnational crime. The organization was founded in 1923 and today unites 196 states, making it a key element of the global security system.

The main task of Interpol is to facilitate international cooperation in the investigation of crimes that go beyond the borders of a single country. It does not have the authority to make arrests, conduct searches, or carry out operational activities. Interpol is not a supranational police force and does not interfere in the internal affairs of countries. Its key function is informational and coordination support, ensuring effective interaction between the law enforcement agencies of member states.

Interpol provides countries with access to a range of informational resources and channels for operational interaction. The I-24/7 data exchange system is a secure telecommunications network through which law enforcement agencies exchange data on suspects, crimes, movements, documents, and criminal schemes in real-time. All National Central Bureaus of member countries are connected to this system.

Interpol collects and processes information about wanted persons, stolen vehicles and documents, weapons, drugs, and cultural heritage objects, DNA profiles and fingerprints of criminals, financial and cybercrimes. These databases are available to law enforcement agencies worldwide and significantly accelerate investigations.

Interpol has its own system of notifications in different colors for various purposes. For example, a Red Notice is a request for provisional arrest with the aim of extradition, a Yellow Notice is used to locate missing persons, and a Blue Notice is for determining the whereabouts and gathering additional information.

Interpol covers a wide range of serious international crimes, acting as a global coordination center between the law enforcement agencies of different countries. Despite not having the authority to make arrests, its role in uniting the efforts of states, sharing information, and launching transnational operations makes it an indispensable tool in combating threats that go beyond a single jurisdiction. Interpol’s work is structured through official programs, each aimed at combating a specific category of crimes.

The fight against terrorism is one of Interpol’s priorities. The organization provides countries with access to a unified database of suspected terrorists, coordinates the exchange of information about the movements of individuals associated with terrorist organizations, and helps track their financial flows. Through its notification system, Interpol helps promptly detain suspects when crossing borders.

In addition, the organization develops analytical profiles and alerts about potential threats, including foreign fighters and radicalized individuals. Interpol also conducts joint exercises and operations to enhance member countries’ readiness for transnational attacks.

Interpol is actively involved in the global fight against human trafficking, including labor and sexual exploitation, as well as crimes related to migrant smuggling. Its role consists of identifying international routes, uncovering criminal networks that organize the transportation and sale of people, and coordinating rescue operations.

Through joint campaigns with other international organizations, Interpol assists in identifying victims, creating operational profiles of suspects, and training national services in methods of recognizing human trafficking. The organization also conducts analytical reviews and provides access to DNA and fingerprint databases, which allow for the identification of victims and perpetrators.

As part of the fight against international drug trafficking, Interpol focuses on investigating the activities of transnational drug cartels, tracking drug supply routes, and neutralizing criminal networks involved in the production and distribution of prohibited substances.

The organization coordinates operations across several continents, gathers information about participants in the drug market, and analyzes the interaction of drug cartels with other forms of organized crime (for example, money laundering or arms trafficking). Thanks to cooperation with regional agencies, Interpol regularly conducts multilateral operations — for instance, OPERATION LIONFISH in Asia and Latin America. Additionally, global databases are being updated, recording suspects, vehicles, financial instruments, and supply logistics.

With the growth of digital technologies, Interpol established the Global Centre for Cybercrime in Singapore (IGCI), which has become a coordination hub in the fight against digital threats. Interpol is engaged in countering hacking attacks, phishing, the spread of malware, ransomware, and breaches of critical infrastructure.

The organization helps countries track the sources of attacks, identify international criminal networks, and share evidence within the framework of investigations. Interpol specialists develop tools for analyzing digital traces, as well as train law enforcement officers in cyber investigation methods. In addition, Interpol participates in the development of global digital security standards and provides analytical reports on trends in cyber threats.

Interpol plays an important role in combating crimes such as money laundering, international fraud, banking schemes, and corporate corruption. The organization helps uncover schemes of illegal transfers, track financial flows through offshore accounts, and block the assets of criminal groups.

Together with banks, FATF, and law enforcement agencies, Interpol participates in the investigation of financial pyramids, illegal appropriation of budget funds, and investment fraud. In addition, the organization publishes alerts and bulletins for financial institutions and government bodies, warning about suspicious activities.

Interpol provides support to international criminal courts, tribunals, and national authorities involved in investigating genocide, ethnic cleansing, mass killings, and other violations of international humanitarian law.

As part of this mission, Interpol ensures the search for individuals evading justice through the red notice system and data exchange between countries. The organization also maintains DNA and fingerprint databases for the identification of suspects and victims. Cooperation with the UN, ICC, and other bodies allows Interpol to serve as a link between investigation, justice, and operational coordination.

Interpol coordinates the fight against crimes against the environment, including illegal trade in rare and endangered species of animals, deforestation, dumping of toxic waste, water and air pollution. These crimes are often organized by transnational networks and are connected with other forms of criminal activity, including corruption and money laundering.

Interpol conducts joint operations with environmental organizations and national agencies, tracks illegal supply chains, and suppresses the activities of criminal groups. The organization also engages in training law enforcement personnel, raising awareness, and publishing analytical reports on the scale and forms of environmental crime.

According to Article 3 of the Charter, the organization is strictly prohibited from interfering in matters of a political, military, religious, or racial nature. This means that Interpol has no right to consider:

This norm serves as protection against abuses by authoritarian regimes that may attempt to use the international search mechanism for political or repressive purposes.

Interpol does not deal with disputes related to civil claims (division of property, inheritance, debt recovery), business conflicts (breach of contract terms, disputes between companies), administrative matters, including tax or visa violations, unless they are accompanied by serious criminal offenses.

Our practice shows that the greatest number of system abuses is related to:

Such requests contradict the Interpol Constitution and can be challenged. If you have become the subject of a notice related to politics, religion, a commercial dispute, or an administrative matter, you have the right to file a complaint with the CCF Commission. This independent body reviews appeals from individuals and legal entities, analyzes the legality of notices, and makes decisions on their removal or restriction of access. The CCF takes into account international norms, the status of the individual, the presence of court rulings, and evidence of abuse.

One of the most recognizable tools of Interpol is the system of color-coded notices, which are used to disseminate information between countries. Notices allow national police to promptly receive information about a suspect, detain them when crossing the border, or during a routine check.

Interpol manages more than 20 specialized databases, including a database of wanted persons, stolen and counterfeit documents, stolen vehicles and weapons, a database of fingerprints and DNA, a database of terrorist objects and individuals associated with extremism. All member countries are connected to these databases through National Central Bureaus. This allows investigators, border guards, and special services to instantly verify suspicious documents, a person’s identity, vehicles, or biometric data by comparing them with international information.

I-24/7 is a secure telecommunication platform through which countries exchange data on crimes, suspects, operations, and threats in real time. It is a kind of international emergency communication channel between all law enforcement agencies in the world.

Each National Central Bureau has access to the system and can send urgent requests, transmit data in real time, coordinate operations, transfer documents and images. This system allows establishing contact with the competent authorities of another country in the shortest possible time and avoiding bureaucratic delays that often hinder investigations with an international element.

Law enforcement agencies of different countries use Interpol tools to identify a suspect if they are hiding abroad, track the movements of criminals around the world, obtain confirmation of an arrest warrant and publish a red notice, exchange biometric data or forensic results, request operational assistance within the framework of cross-border operations.

First and foremost: do not attempt to resolve the issue on your own. Interpol is an international organization with its own procedures, charter, and limitations. Mistakes at this stage can only worsen the situation.

Contact a lawyer with experience in dealing with the CCF Commission and knowledge of extradition procedures and international criminal law. The lawyer will conduct a preliminary analysis of the notification, determine its type, explain the consequences and possible restrictions, and develop an individual defense strategy.

In parallel with legal consultation, it is necessary to gather all possible information that may be useful for defense: copies of court decisions, documents confirming the groundlessness of accusations, information about received political asylum, evidence of rights violations, evidence of good faith actions.

If the notification violates the Interpol Constitution, you can file a complaint with the CCF. The procedure includes preparing an application in an official language of Interpol, submitting a package of documents via mail or an authorized lawyer, justifying the illegality of the notification, and waiting for a response from the CCF. A properly prepared appeal significantly increases the chances of removing or restricting access to the notification.

A lawyer can file a motion to prohibit extradition, appeal the actions of law enforcement agencies, negotiate with the NCB, and interact with international human rights organizations.

If your name has ended up in the Interpol database, you received a notification or faced restrictions when crossing the border, immediately seek qualified legal assistance. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the higher the chances of successfully resolving the case. Interpol does not notify individuals directly about the issuance of notices, and many find out about it only upon detention or visa denial. Independent attempts to deal with the situation almost always lead to delays in the case and an increased risk.

Our legal team provides a full range of services for Interpol cases:

We work in multiple languages, connect partner offices in different countries, and achieve results even in complex and sensitive cases.

Contact us right now for an initial consultation and the development of an effective strategy for further cooperation. We will check your status, prepare a defense strategy, and represent your interests in international structures.