Can INTERPOL Make Arrests? Understanding Interpol’s Powers in 2026

No. INTERPOL is not a police force and has no officers who can arrest anyone, in Dubai or anywhere else. It runs a secure network that lets national police share alerts such as Red Notices.

That is only half the answer. If a Red Notice or a diffusion names you, the police, border officers or prosecutors of the country you are in can detain you under their own law, and how readily they do so differs sharply between countries. This guide explains who actually makes the arrest, how several countries treat a Red Notice, and what to do if you think one may concern you.

Interpol is a global organization that enhances international police cooperation among member countries to combat cross-border crimes together. Its main tasks are coordinating efforts to search for and apprehend suspects, exchanging information, and assisting in the investigation of international crimes.

Interpol headquarters are based in Lyon, France, but it doesn’t handle arrests or conduct its own investigations. However, it provides important support to national police forces and other investigative bodies to help them cooperate with each other.

To enhance global police cooperation in combating crimes, the organization uses an international notice system to transmit data about suspects and crimes. Among the main notifications are:

These notifications help member nations cooperate effectively by exchanging operational information and facilitating the investigation of international crimes.

Interpol does not have the legal authority to arrest people. Arrests are carried out only by the law enforcement agencies of member countries. If a country receives “red notice requests,” it can decide to arrest suspects on its territory. However, since an Interpol notice is advisory in nature, this remains at the discretion of the country.

Moreover, each country’s judicial authorities independently decide whether to accept or not accept “red notices” as a basis for arrest. Laws and procedures vary greatly across different countries. For example, in some countries, a judicial arrest warrant is required for an arrest, even if Interpol has been notified.

The main legal documents regulating Interpol’s activities are the Interpol Constitution and the Principles of International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, including the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters of 1959.

Interpol supports interaction between countries, but its mandate is limited to coordination and information exchange. Actual arrests and prosecutions remain the responsibility of national authorities acting in accordance with their own laws.

Interpol does not have the authority to directly detain or arrest anyone. Its main task is the transmission of information and coordination of actions between member countries. If one of the countries receives a red notice, it independently decides whether to take action against the suspect. This notice represents a request for the search of a person, which can be used for their temporary detention. However, it does not obligate the country to take such measures.

Each state evaluates the necessity of arrest based on its internal legislation. For example, in some countries, red notice requests may serve as grounds for arrest only after obtaining authorization from a court or prosecutor. In other judicial jurisdictions, additional investigation may be required to confirm the grounds for detention. Thus, Interpol performs exclusively an intermediary function, expediting the exchange of information between law enforcement agencies of different countries.

Additionally, it should be noted that Interpol’s rules are strict to exclude interference in political, military, religious, or racial matters. This ensures that the system is used solely for facilitating global police cooperation in combating criminal offenses and not for persecution based on other motives.

An example from practice:

Interpol rejected Russia’s request for an international arrest warrant for Boris Mints and his sons in 2021. According to a representative of the Mints family, Interpol rejected Russia’s request on the grounds that the charges against the Mints did not meet the criteria for issuing an international warrant. This decision underscores that Interpol operates under strict procedures and INTERPOL reviews requests against its Constitution, and some are rejected.

The international criminal police organization includes more than 196 member countries, making it one of the largest international organizations in the world. These countries represent all continents, enabling international police cooperation in combating crime. The headquarters is located in France, and each country maintains contact through a National Central Bureau, which connects local law enforcement agencies with the international network.

Among the participating countries, such states as the USA, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, India, France, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Australia can be highlighted. These member nations play a key role in the organization’s work due to their developed law enforcement systems and active cooperation with other Interpol members. Each bureau operates in accordance with national laws, ensuring communication with the international community and prompt information exchange.

It depends on the country. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate a person and provisionally arrest them pending extradition or similar action. It is not an arrest warrant, and no country is obliged to act on it. Many countries require a domestic judicial warrant or a court or prosecutor’s decision before anyone is detained. In others, a Red Notice is in practice enough for a provisional arrest until the requesting state’s documents arrive. Authorities normally verify the match and the underlying warrant first.

So the statement that an arrest can be based solely on an INTERPOL result is false as a general rule, though the practical picture varies by jurisdiction.