Interpol issued the highest number of red notices against fugitives in 2023, CBI chief told how to deal with crime

New Delhi: CBI Chief Praveen Sood said that in the year 2023, on India’s request, Interpol issued 100 red notices against wanted persons who have fled abroad after committing crimes in various states of the country, which is the highest ever in a year. he/she also said that Interpol Red Notice is not an arrest warrant but a request to all the enforcement agencies around the world to locate and provisionally arrest the wanted person for extradition, surrender or similar legal action who is wanted by Indian investigative agencies and has fled from India abroad.

International police cooperation is needed

CBI Director Sood said this on Thursday while addressing the 10th Interpol Liaison Officer (ILO) Conference organized by the CBI. In which liaison officers and other officials from all the states of the country participated. he/she said that international police cooperation is needed in real time to deal with the threat of international crime and organized crime. he/she stressed that the international dispersion of crime and criminals has increased the need for investigation abroad. he/she further said that “new age crimes including cyber-enabled financial crime, online radicalization and international organized crime networks are not limited to borders. In an increasingly interconnected world, the importance of international police cooperation cannot be underestimated”.

The agency tries globally to tackle these crimes

Addressing the conference on this occasion, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan stressed the need for close coordination and real-time cooperation among law enforcement agencies globally to deal with the imminent threats posed by terrorism, international organized crime networks, online radicalization, illicit drug proliferation, arms smuggling, cybercrime, online child sexual abuse, human trafficking, wildlife and environmental crimes, economic crimes, laundering of crime proceeds, terrorism financing, etc.

‘Fugitives must be brought to justice’

he/she said that the Government of India is looking into 200-300 requests for assistance every day. he/she said that criminals and fugitives should not get benefit due to differences in international justice. They should be brought to justice. With the help of Interpol and international agencies, 29 wanted criminals have been brought back to India in 2023 and 19 so far in 2024. he/she said that the CBI’s ‘Global Operation Center’ processed 17,368 requests for international assistance in 2023.

The conference focused on the INTERPOL Channel, Globe-e Network and investigation of complex international crimes. Speakers from BKA (Germany), FBI (USA), CBI, National Police Agency (Japan), National Crime Agency (UK), PDI (Chile) and Nepal Police also participated in this round table of experts.