Interpol Blue Notice

What is Interpol’s Blue Notice?

Under Article 88 of INTERPOL’s Rules on the Processing of Data, a Blue Notice may be published to:

• obtain information about a person connected to a criminal investigation;
• establish the person’s location;
• confirm or determine their identity.

The subject may be a convicted or charged person, a suspect, a witness or a victim. The requesting authority must provide sufficient information about the investigation and enough identifying data to make international cooperation effective.

A Blue Notice may contain a name, date of birth, nationality, photograph, passport information, fingerprints, DNA data or a physical description. It may also describe the information sought by investigators, such as the person’s possible location, movements, contacts or activities.

A Blue Notice does not contain a request for provisional arrest. It does not function as an international arrest warrant and does not independently authorize detention, extradition or restrictions on movement. Any measures taken by national authorities must have a separate basis under the law of the relevant country.

How is an Interpol Blue Notice Issued?

A member country normally submits a request through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau. An authorized international entity may also request a notice where this falls within its investigative powers. The General Secretariat reviews the request and, if it complies with INTERPOL’s Constitution and data-processing rules, publishes it in the secure Notices database.

The request should explain:

• the person’s connection to the investigation;
• what additional information is required;
• the relevant criminal circumstances;
• the person’s known or possible identity;
• available identifying details.

If the individual has been identified, the notice must contain a sufficient combination of personal data, such as their name, sex, year of birth and passport, biometric or physical information. If the person’s identity is unknown, a photograph, fingerprints or DNA profile may be used.

Once published, the notice becomes available to police authorities in INTERPOL member countries through the Organization’s secure information system. A National Central Bureau receiving relevant information can send it to the authority that requested the notice.

The person concerned is not necessarily informed that a Blue Notice has been issued. It may become apparent during a border check, a police inquiry or another official procedure, but this depends on national law and the manner in which the data are used.

Who is the Subject of the Blue Notice?

Interpol Blue Notices can be issued to a variety of categories of individuals: accused, suspects, witnesses, and victims. They enable law enforcement agencies to share information to assist in the investigation and prosecution of such individuals. The main groups for which such blue notices are often triggered include:

• Transnational criminal groups: individuals involved in smuggling, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and cultural property trafficking. A Blue Notice allows countries to monitor the movements of members of criminal organizations and gather information on how they cross borders, the routes they use, and who they interact with;
• Terrorist suspects: tracking individuals suspected of terrorist activity or with links to terrorist groups, identifying routes, possible supply chains, and contacts that could help uncover a wider terrorist network;
• Economic crime suspects: individuals involved in money laundering, corruption, and other economic crimes, especially if their activities span multiple countries. An Interpol request can help obtain information on assets, possible banking transactions, and movements to confirm suspicions and gather evidence for further investigation;
• Witnesses: Blue Notices can also be issued against individuals who hold important information, facilitating the collection of data and further investigations;
• Illegal immigrants: individuals who are in the country without the appropriate authorization or documentation. They can be issued a Blue Notice to establish their identity and arrange for their return to their country of origin.

A Blue Notice allows for the international criminal court and international criminal police organization for the tracking of suspects and potential witnesses to criminal activities committing crimes, as well as war crimes, and the collection of information on international criminal activity. It is not mandatory, and each country decides for itself what measures to take against individuals based on its national laws.

Red Notice vs. Blue Notice

A Red Notice is one of the most serious types of Interpol notices, which is an international request from a member country for the provisional arrest of a suspect with a view to his/her subsequent extradition. Red Notices are issued for serious crimes: murder, terrorism, human trafficking, and others. Interpol, an international criminal police organization, does not issue Red Notices automatically. It is guided by its statutes and data processing procedures, which are subject to review by the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF).

Interpol Blue Notice is an information request that is used to locate, identify, and track a third person’s criminal activities. Unlike a Red Notice, it does not require an arrest warrant or detention but serves to obtain additional information about the subject.

Interpol Blue Notice is an information request that is used to locate, identify, and track a person. Unlike a Red Notice, it does not require an arrest or detention but serves to obtain additional information about the subject. A Blue Notice does not oblige countries to take any legal action against a person. It is most often used for individuals involved in transnational crime, but for whom there is not yet sufficient grounds for arrest.

So, the main difference between the two green notices and Interpol blue notices, and these cards removing blue notices Interpol red notices, is their purpose (Red Notice – a request for temporary arrest and subsequent extradition, Blue Notice – a request to collect additional information), the mandatory nature of the action (in some countries, a red notice is used as an arrest warrant, a blue notice does not require legal action or detention), and the subjects of the notice (Red Notice – seek persons wanted, accused or convicted persons, Blue Notice – suspects, witnesses and persons with information important to the investigation).

It is also worth noting the likelihood of cases when Interpol issues interpol blue notices before red notices or color coded notices before blue notices or a blue notice before a Red Notice or diffusion notice, in order to expedite the arrest of a person for extradition, prosecution or serving a sentence. Therefore, it is extremely important to obtain qualified legal support as soon as possible to take proactive measures.

How to check Interpol Blue Notice?

As a member of the public, it is not possible to directly check if someone is subject to an Interpol Blue Notice. However, if you have relevant information about an individual or criminal activity that may be of interest to international alert and law enforcement agencies, you can contact your local police or Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) to report it.

To check if you are subject to Blue Corner Notice Interpol, you can contact your local police or Interpol NCB to inquire about any information they may have on file about you. It’s important to note that Interpol only shares information with law enforcement agencies, and they do not provide information to public or private individuals.

Overall, the best way to check Interpol Blue Notice is to contact your local or international law enforcement or agency or Interpol NCB for any information or assistance regarding a criminal investigation.

How Can a Blue Notice from Interpol Be Challenged?

When a government requests an Interpol Notice, it must adhere to specific guidelines. Interpol won’t issue a blue notice lead anyone if the matter is politically or militarily motivated; it must be a criminal case pending prosecution. The principle of presumption of innocence applies, and individuals with a Blue Notice have the right to appeal if they fear human rights violations during extradition, particularly an unfair trial, protected by Article 6 of the ECHR.

An order seeking removal might be contested for a variety of grounds, including the right to a fair trial and the fact that it was issued for non-political, military, or other unlawful reasons (read more about removing a Red Notice here). Sometimes a situation is not totally clear, and the political purpose of the Interpol Notice is not immediately obvious. In such circumstances, the legal assistance of counsel might be critical in providing relevant evidence and obtaining a successful challenge to orange notice.

How to request removal of a Blue Notice?

A request for deletion should clearly identify the contested data, explain which INTERPOL rules may have been breached and include documentary evidence.

Relevant documents may include:

• decisions closing or suspending the investigation;
• judgments or prosecutorial orders;
• evidence of mistaken identity;
• documents showing that the information is outdated;
• asylum or refugee-status decisions;
• evidence of a political or private dispute;
• correspondence with the investigating authorities.

The CCF may request additional explanations from the applicant, the source of the data, the General Secretariat or another relevant entity. Once it has sufficient information, it issues a written and reasoned decision and sends it to the General Secretariat for implementation where required.

Deletion of a Blue Notice does not automatically terminate the underlying national investigation. Separate action may be needed in the country that initiated the case.

Legal Representation in the Field of Extradition, Interpol, and Blue Notice removal

If you have been the subject of an Interpol Blue Notice, do not hesitate to contact a qualified lawyer. Our company’s specialists specialize in this area and have extensive experience in such cases. An experienced lawyer will assess the legal grounds for a Blue Notice and its compliance with the Interpol Charter. We will prepare an individual defense strategy for each client, taking into account the specifics of their case, collect all the necessary evidence to challenge the notice and file a corresponding request to the CCF.

Our team accompanies clients at all stages of the process representing the request review: filing an application in accordance with all Interpol requirements, interacting with the CCF Commission on any additional issues, constantly monitoring the process and regularly notifying the client about the progress of ongoing investigations in the case. In case of refusal, we are ready to develop additional strategies, re-apply or appeal to higher international authorities.

In addition, our specialists provide competent online consultations for clients from all over the world. If a personal consultation is required, our lawyers are ready to fly to the relevant countries. Our services are available in a variety of languages, including English, Russian, French, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish. Encrypted communications are also possible.

Contact us now for more information and to develop an effective legal defense strategy for your situation.

Dmytro Konovalenko

Senior Partner, Attorney-at-law, admitted to the Bar (Certificate to practice Law #001156)

Lawyer specializing in extradition and Interpol cases, with membership in the International Bar Association. In five years of practice, Dmitry has defended clients against persecution by law enforcement agencies in the United States, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Russia and other countries. He has successfully applied measures to prevent a manhunt at early stages and specializes in defending in complex cases involving economic, political and military charges.

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+12029293711

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