LYON, France – INTERPOL has published a Red Notice, or international wanted persons alert, for Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society at the request of Japanese authorities.
Mr Watson is sought for prosecution by Japan on charges of ‘Breaking into the Vessel, Damage to Property, Forcible Obstruction of Business, and Injury’ in relation to two incidents that took place on the Antarctic Ocean in February 2010 against a Japanese whaling ship.
The Red Notice for the 61-year-old Canadian has been circulated to all 190 INTERPOL member following its publication on 14 September and is in addition to the Red Notice issued at the request of Costa Rica on Tuesday 7 August in connection with separate alleged offences.
A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. A Red Notice status is a request for any country to identify or locate an individual with a view to their provisional arrest and extradition in accordance with the country’s national laws. INTERPOL cannot compel any of its 190 member countries to arrest the subject of a Red Notice.
Any individual who is subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Additional enquiries in relation to the Red Notices for Paul Watson should be directed to the national authorities of the requesting countries, Costa Rica and Japan.