An INTERPOL operation targeting many of the most dangerous fugitives in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe concluded with the arrest of 58 ‘high-risk criminals’ and the location of 28 more.
Working from a list of more than 150 cases regarding individuals wanted for violent and organized crime charges, the international task force shared information and followed up on investigative leads between July and December.
The fugitives, some of whom had been wanted for up to 15 years, were all subject to INTERPOL Red Notices – an international wanted persons alert that helps arrest thousands of the world’s most dangerous criminals each year. The operation brought together investigators from 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as four countries in Europe.
Among those arrested were an Argentine man wanted for sexual abuse of a minor, an alleged Ecuadorian money launderer and one of Spain’s most wanted fugitives.
INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said, “This stunning result demonstrates the very real impact of international police cooperation. Bringing police together across borders – even just for a week – can crack open cases, put criminals behind bars and make our communities safer.”
Before the operation, INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit worked with participating countries to establish a list of priority targets, selecting fugitives that had committed violent crimes such as rape or murder or those linked to organized crime.
To date, 15 of those arrested were wanted for murder, while 14 were accused of drug trafficking and 18 of crimes against children. Twenty-three fugitives were arrested in Europe, with 13 arrests in Spain alone.
An additional 28 fugitives were located by the task force, with authorities continuing to exchange information and work towards their arrest.
Andres M., an Ecuadorian accused of raping a minor, was arrested by Italian authorities in Rome. Claudio Marcelo C., an Argentine National, was arrested in Quilmes on a Red Notice issued on behalf of Spain for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Domingos Manuel, accused of raping a minor and listed among Spain’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Brazil. Alan P., wanted by Ecuadorian authorities for money laundering, was arrested in Barcelona, Spain.
David E. G., wanted by Brazil and arrested by Colombian authorities after allegedly killing his girlfriend in the presence of her eight-month-old daughter. The child was left in a cot next to her mother’s body and was discovered several days later in a malnourished state.
The operation is part of INTERPOL’s Support to El PACCTO 2.0 project, funded by the European Union and works to strengthen a permanent network of fugitive investigators across Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
The project facilitates joint fugitive investigations through increased interregional police cooperation and standardized information exchange. The first phase of INTERPOL’s El PACCTO project resulted in 150 arrests and positive locations over five years, from 2018-2022.
The 86 arrests and positive locations produced under the EL PACCTO 2.0 project represent the highest-ever amount for a single operation in either phase
