Service:
A Canadian citizen sought legal assistance after being wrongly charged by the Chinese government, which led to an INTERPOL Red Notice against them. Despite successfully fighting the charge and becoming a Canadian citizen in 2015, the Red Notice remained active, severely restricting their travel. The client was unable to visit friends in the U.S. due to border enforcement measures related to the notice. They requested legal support to remove the INTERPOL listing and restore their ability to travel freely.
Legal Challenges:
The primary legal challenge was proving that the Red Notice was no longer valid, as the original charges had been dismissed. INTERPOL Red Notices do not automatically expire upon a change in citizenship, and removing them requires a formal legal process through the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF). Additionally, given that the notice was issued by Chinese authorities, extra scrutiny was required to demonstrate that the charges were politically or unjustly motivated.
The legal team gathered all relevant documentation, including court rulings that cleared the client’s name, proof of their Canadian citizenship, and legal opinions on the nature of the charges. The case was presented to INTERPOL’s CCF with a request to review and delete the Red Notice on the grounds that it no longer met INTERPOL’s criteria. The legal team pursued the formal process of removal of the red notice to ensure the client’s rights were fully restored. Additional considerations related to Red Notices issued by China were examined through expert analysis on red notice in China.
The Commission’s Decision
Following a detailed review of the submitted evidence, the CCF ruled in favor of the client. It was determined that the Red Notice no longer served a valid legal purpose and should be deleted. INTERPOL officially removed the notice, restoring the client’s ability to travel without restriction. As a result, the client could now visit the U.S. and exercise their rights as a Canadian citizen without further obstacles.