HomeINTERPOL Red Notice Lawyer in Colombia
An INTERPOL Red Notice has a specific legal significance in Colombia. Colombian criminal procedure provides that a request concerning a person circulated through an INTERPOL Red Notice has effect within Colombian territory, and a person retained on that basis must be placed immediately at the disposal of the Office of the Attorney General.
Our lawyers assist clients in Colombia with identifying the Red Notice and underlying foreign proceedings, assessing the risk of retention and extradition, and determining whether the INTERPOL data can be challenged separately.
A Red Notice and a Colombian extradition order are not the same instrument. The INTERPOL alert can trigger a Colombian legal process, but the subsequent arrest and extradition stages are governed by Colombian law.
How Does INTERPOL Operate in Colombia?
Colombia’s National Central Bureau is located in Bogotá and forms part of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and INTERPOL (DIJIN) of the Colombian National Police.
NCB Bogotá connects Colombian authorities with INTERPOL and other member countries. Through the NCB, Colombian agencies can access INTERPOL criminal databases and exchange information needed for international investigations.
This makes Colombia different from jurisdictions where the practical effect of a Red Notice depends almost entirely on a separate domestic warrant procedure.
Colombian legislation specifically addresses what happens when a person is identified through a Red Notice.
Can a Red Notice Lead to Retention in Colombia?
Yes.
Article 484 of Colombia’s Code of Criminal Procedure provides that a request for a person made through an INTERPOL Red Notice has effect in Colombian territory. Where a person is retained on that basis, they must be placed immediately at the disposal of the Fiscal General de la Nación.
This does not mean that INTERPOL itself arrests the person. Colombian authorities carry out the national procedure.
Decree 3860 of 2011 further provides that, once the retained person is placed at the disposal of the Attorney General’s Office, the Fiscal General has up to five business days to issue an arrest order for extradition purposes, if the legal requirements are satisfied.
For this reason, a Red Notice affecting a person in Colombia should not be treated merely as an informational police alert.
Is a Red Notice the Same as an Extradition Order?
No.
A Red Notice is an INTERPOL cooperation mechanism. An arrest order for extradition purposes is a separate measure issued under Colombian law.
Article 509 of Law 906 of 2004 provides that the Fiscal General may order the arrest of the requested person after receiving a formal extradition request, or earlier where the requesting state makes an urgent request containing the required information about the person and the underlying conviction, accusation or equivalent measure.
This distinction matters because a person may need two separate legal strategies:
- one concerning the INTERPOL data; and
- another concerning arrest or extradition proceedings in Colombia.
What Should Be Reviewed in a Colombia Red Notice Case?
The legal assessment should begin with the exact international and national measures that exist.
Relevant issues may include:
- which country requested the Red Notice;
- the arrest warrant, indictment or judgment underlying the request;
- whether the Red Notice remains current;
- whether a formal extradition request has already been made;
- whether the Fiscalía has issued an arrest order for extradition purposes;
- whether the alleged conduct is also criminal under Colombian law where that requirement applies;
- the nationality of the requested person;
- when and where the alleged offence occurred; and
- whether the INTERPOL data itself raises compliance concerns.
A Red Notice case should therefore not be analysed only from the CCF perspective or only as an extradition case.
Can You Check Whether a Red Notice Is Active?
A public search on INTERPOL’s website is not always enough.
INTERPOL does not publish every Red Notice publicly. Where there is uncertainty about whether personal data is being processed, an application to the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files may be used to seek access to information concerning the applicant.
A CCF access request can therefore be relevant where a person in Colombia has reason to believe that they are internationally wanted but does not have reliable information about the Notice.
Verification should occur before assumptions are made about the requesting country, the scope of the alert or the appropriate legal response.
Can an INTERPOL Red Notice Be Challenged From Colombia?
Yes.
A person located in Colombia can request correction or deletion of personal data processed through INTERPOL by applying to the CCF.
Possible issues may include inaccurate or outdated information, questions about the purpose of processing, insufficient description of the individual’s alleged conduct, human-rights considerations or other requirements under INTERPOL’s Constitution and Rules on the Processing of Data.
The CCF does not conduct the underlying criminal trial and does not determine guilt or innocence. Its role is to review whether INTERPOL’s processing of personal data complies with the Organization’s own legal framework.
A CCF challenge and Colombian extradition proceedings remain legally separate even where they arise from the same foreign criminal case.
How Does Extradition Work After a Red Notice Retention?
Colombia’s extradition procedure involves both executive and judicial authorities.
Under Article 490 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, extradition may be requested, granted or offered under applicable treaties and, where no treaty governs, under Colombian law. The same provision states that extradition does not proceed for political offences.
The Supreme Court of Justice plays an important role in the procedure. Colombian law requires a prior favourable opinion from the Court before the Government can grant extradition. A favourable opinion does not itself compel the Government to surrender the person; the final governmental decision remains separate.
Where the matter has moved from an INTERPOL alert to an active Colombian extradition procedure, our fugitive extradition lawyers can assess the international strategy alongside appropriate Colombian representation.
What Is the 60-Day Rule in Colombian Extradition Cases?
The 60-day period is narrower than the current page suggests.
It should not be described simply as a universal deadline beginning whenever a person is stopped because of a Red Notice.
Article 511 of Law 906 provides that a requested person must be released if the formal extradition request has not been submitted within 60 days following the date of capture. The provision also contains a separate 30-day rule where the requesting state fails to take custody after the person has been made available for surrender.
The legal chronology therefore matters:
Red Notice retention → possible Colombian arrest order for extradition purposes → formal extradition request → further extradition procedure.
These stages should not be collapsed into one event.
Does Colombian Citizenship Prevent Extradition?
Not automatically.
Article 35 of the Colombian Constitution permits extradition under treaties and, in their absence, under domestic law.
It also provides that Colombian citizens by birth may be extradited for offences committed abroad where the conduct is also considered an offence under Colombian criminal law. Extradition does not proceed for political offences, and the Constitution contains a temporal restriction concerning conduct committed before the 1997 constitutional amendment.
Nationality must therefore be analysed together with the date, location and nature of the alleged conduct rather than treated as an automatic bar to extradition.
Does Removing the Red Notice Stop Extradition in Colombia?
Not automatically.
Deletion of a Red Notice affects information processed through INTERPOL. It does not itself cancel:
- the foreign national arrest warrant;
- the criminal case in the requesting country;
- a Colombian arrest order already issued for extradition purposes; or
- a formal extradition request being considered by Colombian authorities.
The effect of a successful INTERPOL challenge therefore has to be considered alongside the status of the Colombian proceedings.
In some cases, the same evidence may be relevant to both processes, but the competent authorities and legal tests are different.
Legal Help With an INTERPOL Red Notice in Colombia
A Colombia Red Notice case can move quickly from international police information to national extradition procedure.
Our role is to identify the stage the client has actually reached.
We review the INTERPOL information, underlying foreign proceedings and Colombian procedural position, assess whether a CCF challenge is appropriate and coordinate the international strategy where extradition measures are also active.
If an INTERPOL Red Notice affects you in Colombia, contact our team for a confidential assessment of the available legal options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be arrested at Bogotá airport if I have a Red Notice?
Yes. Colombia’s national police and immigration authorities routinely check travellers against the Interpol I-24/7 database at El Dorado International and other major airports. Individuals with Red Notices have been detained at Colombian airports pending extradition proceedings. We strongly recommend a legal review before any travel to Colombia if you have any reason to believe a notice may exist.
Does Colombia extradite to the United States?
Yes — Colombia has one of the most active extradition relationships with the United States in Latin America. Extradition requests are processed through the Colombian Supreme Court, and the process can move quickly once initiated. Our lawyers work with Colombian criminal counsel to mount extradition challenges while simultaneously addressing the Interpol notice at the CCF level.
How long does it take to remove a Red Notice?
Standard CCF proceedings take 6–18 months. In urgent cases involving imminent extradition or arrest risk, we can apply for expedited review and interim data restriction. Contact us at +357 96 447475 for an immediate consultation.
