About

• Founded in 1923, Interpol is an international police organisation made up of 196 member countries (including India). 
• It is not a police force in the traditional sense—its agents are not able to arrest criminals. Instead, it is more of an information-sharing network, providing a way for national police forces to co-operate effectively and tackle international crime ranging from human trafficking and terrorism to money laundering and illegal art dealing. 
• The organisation, based in Lyon, France, operates centralized criminal databases that contain fingerprint records, DNA samples and stolen documents.
• Interpol’s other main function is to issue notices: alerts to member states for missing or wanted persons. 
  • The best-known of these is the “Red Notice”, a notification that a member state would like someone arrested. 
  • A special category of notices known as the “Interpol — United Nations Security Council Special Notice” is issued for entities and individuals who are the targets of UN Security Council Sanctions Committees.
  • States are not obliged to follow these notices, but will often treat them as a warrant for someone’s arrest and extradition.