Can I be arrested during a layover or transit through a country where I have legal issues?

Yes, transit passengers are subject to the jurisdiction of the transit country and can be detained if that country has an active warrant or holds immigration restrictions against you. This risk is particularly acute in major hub airports such as Dubai, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, and Istanbul, where immigration databases are routinely checked even for airside transit. Some jurisdictions require transit visas that trigger database checks, while others conduct random or systematic passport scans. We routinely advise clients to identify safe transit routes that avoid jurisdictions with known or suspected legal exposure.