ISLAMABAD: Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Pakistan issued 286 Red Notices in the last seven months as part of efforts to track fugitives involved in murder, fraud, terrorism and human trafficking, according to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Dr Usman Anwar.

A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies by Interpol to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action.

Anwar, who also heads NCB-Interpol Pakistan, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve on World Day of International Police Cooperation, adding that Islamabad would continue to strengthen collaboration with Interpol and global partners.

NCBs serve as each country’s focal point for all Interpol activities. They connect national law enforcement agencies with those in other countries and with the Interpol General Secretariat through a secure global police communications network known as I-24/7, allowing real-time access to databases and services.

Anwar said NCB-Interpol Pakistan issued a total of 290 Interpol notices during the period, including two Blue Notices and two Yellow Notices.

Yellow Notices are meant to help locate missing persons, often minors, or identify people who are unable to identify themselves, while Blue Notices are issued to collect additional information.

Of the 286 Red Notices, 225 were issued for suspects wanted in murder and attempted murder cases, while another 33 were issued for individuals wanted in kidnapping, corruption, robbery and cybercrime cases.

The bureau also issued 19 Red Notices for financial fraud and deception, six for human trafficking and three for terrorism.

Through international cooperation, 53 fugitives wanted in Pakistan for serious crimes were arrested in different countries and extradited to Pakistan during the same seven-month period.

“Today’s crimes are increasingly international. Cybercrime, fugitives and stolen goods driven by organised groups — none of these respect borders,” Anwar told Dawn.

“We seek information from other NCBs to help investigations in Pakistan, and we share our criminal data to assist other countries.”

He added that NCBs were critical because they could trigger law enforcement action in their respective countries and work directly with counterparts, even between states without diplomatic relations.

“When a crime goes beyond our national jurisdiction, we need international support to solve it. Interpol provides that platform,” he stated.

According to Interpol’s framework, NCBs contribute national crime data to global databases in accordance with national laws. Red Notices, for example, alert police in all 196 member countries to wanted persons.

NCB Pakistan works with domestic law enforcement agencies, other NCBs and sub-bureaus worldwide, as well as the General Secretariat’s offices, to coordinate cross-border investigations, operations and arrests. The FIA director general noted that regional cooperation was growing as countries combined resources to tackle shared threats.

“We are also building capacity at home. NCBs develop training programmes for national police to raise awareness of Interpol’s tools and databases so that our officers can use them effectively on the ground,” Anwar said.

“FIA NCB-Interpol Pakistan remains committed to ensuring that no fugitive finds safe haven abroad. Through I-24/7 and our network of partners, we will keep pursuing criminals and bringing them to justice.”

In April this year, Interpol issued Red Notices against Bahria Town owner Malik Riaz and his son Ali Riaz, Nat­i­onal Accountability Bur­eau (NAB) Chairman Lt General (retired) Nazir Ahmed said.

Last month, the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) arrested two suspects and initiated the process for obtaining Red Notices for the remaining four alleged members of the “Tycoon2FA Cybercrime Network”.