Interpol seeks public’s help in finding fugitives

Published 10:20 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010

PARIS — International police agency Interpol launched an unusual appeal to the global public to report sightings of 26 leading fugitives — whether on the street or on a Facebook page.

Interpol has been leading an operation since May aimed at tracking down 450 dangerous fugitives, and has arrested 39 people as a result, including former Colombian model Angie Sanclemente Valencia, wanted by Argentina for drug trafficking.

However, Interpol has failed to find a trace of 26 of the suspects, wanted for murder, human trafficking or child sex abuse. So now, Interpol has launched an appeal to the public to report any sign of the 26, releasing their photos and biographical information on its website, www.interpol.int.

It’s the first time Interpol has sought the public’s help to find so many suspects. The global crime-fighting body, which links police forces from 188 countries, normally works behind the scenes, but has had success with public appeals to find a few suspected pedophiles.

Interpol is hoping that social networking sites prove fruitful in finding the fugitives on its new list.

Among those wanted are a South African accused of child rape, a Brazilian suspected of shooting police and drug trafficking, and a Lithuanian murder suspect. The appeal includes photos of suspects’ tattoos, languages spoken, and facial hair preferences.

The operation that began in May focused on 450 fugitives and involved police from 29 countries working out of Interpol’s headquarters.

It produced new details, fingerprints, photographs and other information on more than 300 of the suspects.

“What we are now left with are the cases where we have no new information on their whereabouts,” said Martin Cox, coordinator of the appeal.