Are all Red Notices Public?
Two of the most common questions I encounter in practice are: (a) Will I be arrested if a Red Notice exists against me? (b) If my name does not appear on INTERPOL’s public website, does that mean I am not subject to a Red Notice? The first question is addressed in a separate analysis.
Here, I focus on the second one, and the short answer is: No. The assumption that absence from INTERPOL’s public database means no Red Notice exists is incorrect. In reality, the opposite is often true.
Red Notice Statistics:
> 19,568 Red Notices were issued in 2025
> 142,128 Red Notices were issued between 2015 and 2025
> 86,021 Red Notices remained valid as of December 31, 2025
Yet, as of April 17, 2026, only 6,446 Red Notices are visible in INTERPOL’s public database. This represents approximately 7.5% of all valid Red Notices and approximately 4.5% of all Red Notices issued.
Key takeaway: INTERPOL Red Notices are not fully public
Most Red Notices are not publicly accessible. Publication depends on multiple factors, including legal, procedural, and strategic considerations. As a result, using INTERPOL’s public database as a “clearance tool” is unreliable. Not appearing online does not mean you are not subject to a Red Notice.
What should you do?
From a legal standpoint, individuals and advisors should rely on formal verification mechanisms, not public searches. This includes submitting an Access Request to INTERPOL’s Commission for the Control of Files (“CCF”) to determine whether data is held.
Practical guidance
If there is any indication that a Red Notice may exist, the appropriate step is to seek clarification through proper legal channels – not to rely on what is (or is not) visible online.
The gap between public visibility and actual exposure remains significant. As always, what matters is not only what is visible, but what is not.
*Statistics Available at INTERPOL’s Website: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/About-Noticeshttps://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/About-Notices.
