ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan’s National Central Bureau (NCB) of Interpol issued 286 Red Notices during the last seven months as part of an intensified effort to locate fugitives wanted in serious criminal cases, including murder, fraud, kidnapping, human trafficking and terrorism, according to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar.
Dr Usman Anwar, who also heads NCB-Interpol Pakistan, said international police cooperation had become increasingly important as criminals and organised networks continued to operate across national borders.
An Interpol Red Notice is an international request to law enforcement authorities to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted individual pending extradition, surrender or other applicable legal proceedings. It is important to note that a Red Notice is not itself an international arrest warrant; each member country determines what legal action can be taken under its own laws.
According to the FIA chief, NCB-Interpol Pakistan issued a total of 290 Interpol notices during the seven-month period. These included 286 Red Notices, two Blue Notices and two Yellow Notices.
Of the Red Notices issued, 225 related to suspects wanted in murder and attempted murder cases, making homicide-related cases the largest category.
Another 33 Red Notices were issued for individuals wanted in cases involving kidnapping, corruption, robbery and cybercrime.
The bureau also issued 19 Red Notices in financial fraud and deception cases, while six were related to human trafficking and three to terrorism.
53 Fugitives Extradited to Pakistan
International cooperation also resulted in the arrest and extradition of 53 fugitives wanted by Pakistani authorities during the same seven-month period.
The suspects were arrested in different countries and subsequently extradited to Pakistan to face legal proceedings in cases registered against them.
The extraditions highlight the role of Interpol and NCB networks in tracing suspects who leave Pakistan after allegedly committing serious crimes.
Dr Anwar said modern criminal activity increasingly crosses borders, particularly in areas such as cybercrime, organised crime, financial fraud and trafficking.
“Today’s crimes are increasingly international,” he said, stressing that criminals, fugitives and illicit goods connected with organised groups do not operate within national boundaries.
What Are Interpol’s Red, Blue and Yellow Notices?
Interpol notices are international cooperation mechanisms used by police forces to share information and coordinate action.
A Red Notice seeks the location and provisional arrest of a person wanted for prosecution or to serve a sentence. The final decision regarding arrest remains with the authorities of the country where the person is located.
A Blue Notice is used to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.
A Yellow Notice helps authorities locate missing persons, particularly children, or identify individuals who are unable to identify themselves.
NCBs Link Police Forces Across Borders
Every Interpol member country operates a National Central Bureau that acts as its main contact point for international police cooperation.
NCB-Interpol Pakistan connects Pakistani law enforcement agencies with their counterparts abroad and with Interpol’s General Secretariat through the organisation’s secure I-24/7 communications network.
The system enables law enforcement authorities to exchange information and access international police databases and services in real time, subject to applicable laws and procedures.
Dr Anwar said Pakistan seeks information from other NCBs to support investigations being conducted domestically, while also sharing relevant criminal information with foreign counterparts.
He said NCBs were particularly important in cases where criminal investigations crossed national jurisdictions because they could facilitate cooperation between law enforcement agencies even in circumstances where formal diplomatic relations may be limited or absent.
Focus on Cross-Border Crime
Pakistan’s international law-enforcement cooperation has become increasingly important as cybercrime, financial scams, human trafficking and organised criminal activity become more sophisticated and geographically dispersed.
According to the FIA, NCB-Interpol Pakistan coordinates with domestic law enforcement agencies, foreign NCBs, Interpol sub-bureaus and offices of the General Secretariat to facilitate cross-border investigations, arrests and extraditions.
Dr Anwar said regional cooperation was also expanding as countries sought to combine resources and intelligence to deal with threats affecting multiple jurisdictions.
He added that Pakistan was also working to improve domestic capacity by developing training programmes for police and other law enforcement personnel so they could make more effective use of Interpol’s databases and investigative tools.
Pakistan Vows to Pursue Fugitives Abroad
The FIA director general said NCB-Interpol Pakistan remained committed to ensuring that fugitives wanted in Pakistan could not use foreign countries as safe havens.
The latest figures demonstrate the growing reliance on international police cooperation to locate suspects who cross borders and to bring them back to Pakistan to face legal proceedings.
In April, Interpol issued Red Notices against Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz, according to a statement previously attributed to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Lt Gen (retired) Nazir Ahmed.
Separately, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) recently arrested two suspects allegedly linked to the “Tycoon2FA Cybercrime Network” and began the process of seeking Red Notices for four other alleged members.
The developments reflect Pakistan’s broader efforts to strengthen international cooperation against fugitives and organised crime, particularly as digital technology and cross-border criminal networks make it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to deal with serious offences within national boundaries alone.
