About

• Founded in 1923, INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization 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 organization, based in Lyon, France, operates centralized criminal databases that contain fingerprint records, DNA samples and stolen documents.

INTERPOL’s color-coded notices

• • INTERPOL has an elaborate system of color-coded notices, which enable countries to share alerts and requests for information on wanted persons/crimes worldwide. This sharing of critical crime-related information is crucial for tackling internationally spread out criminal activities.
  • Notices are issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau.

• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is the National Central Bureau for Interpol in India, which coordinates with all law enforcement agencies in India for assistance via INTERPOL channels.

• INTERPOL’s notices are completely discretionary, i.e. Interpol itself cannot compel law enforcement authorities to act on a particular notice. Very often, actual action on the notices is predicated on the relations between the two countries.

Types of Notice

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• 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.

Why in News?

• Bangladesh’s interim government said it will seek Interpol’s assistance in repatriating deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, and other “fugitives”, to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.
• Ms. Hasina and her party leaders face accusations of ordering brutal suppression of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, resulting in numerous casualties during the July-August protests. 
• The movement later intensified into a large-scale uprising, forcing Ms. Hasina to flee to India in August.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bangladeshs-interim-government-to-seek-interpol-support-to-repatriate-hasina/article68852102.ece