How many bribes does it take to get a Red Notice removed? While this sounds like the lead-in to a bad joke, for many people facing Red Notices, it is unfortunately a matter that bears consideration.

Let me be clear: never once have I read, observed, or been advised by anyone about any bribery efforts on the part of anyone who works for INTERPOL. In fact, to the contrary, in the cases to which I am privy, I have found that INTERPOL's staff members have gone out of their way to avoid any appearance of impropropriety.

The issue of bribery, when it arises, inevitably appears in the judicial and executive branches of government of the member countries that request Red Notices. Subjects report requests for bribes from National Central Bureau ("NCB") officials (who are employees of the member countries, not of INTERPOL), arresting officers, judges, prosecuting attorneys, and other judicial and law enforcement officials.