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Services for Law Enforcement Agencies

Assistance Available to Law Enforcement

INTERPOL Washington provides criminal investigative support and coordination to all U.S. federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, as well as to police authorities in other INTERPOL member countries. Services provided by INTERPOL Washington include:

  • Criminal investigative support to domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies
  • Secure communications with foreign police officials in INTERPOL member countries
  • Criminal history information and record checks from INTERPOL member countries
  • Assistance with preparing and submitting INTERPOL notices for publication
  • Tracing and locating fugitives wanted for prosecution or to serve sentences
  • Tracing and locating missing adults or children
  • International fingerprint and DNA checks
  • Firearm and vehicle traces
  • Stolen or lost travel document checks
  • Disaster victim identification
  • Identification and location of stolen art and cultural artifacts

INTERPOL Washington services are available to law enforcement only. Private citizens or non-law enforcement should contact their local law enforcement agency or other appropriate state, local or federal authority for assistance.

Requesting Assistance From INTERPOL Washington

U.S. states and an increasing number of major U.S. cities have also established an INTERPOL liaison office to streamline making, receiving, and coordinating international criminal investigative requests for assistance via INTERPOL Washington. Requests for international criminal assistance by a local, state, or tribal law enforcement office may be sent through the appropriate liaison office or directly to INTERPOL Washington (24/7).

Law enforcement officials seeking access to the services of INTERPOL Washington should use the following guidelines in making a request:

  • Submit request in writing from a bona fide federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency and contain the name of the requesting agency; the case or reference number, and the name and title of point of contact, and contact information
  • Include a statement of the crime(s) being investigated, or the criminal investigative purpose of the request. (e.g., murder, narcotics trafficking, missing person, abducted/missing child, financial fraud, Internet crime, fugitive, other type of routine criminal investigative requests, etc.)
  • Specify the type of assistance or information being sought from INTERPOL Washington and foreign authorities
  • Include a statement of any known, suspected, or potential international investigative aspect of the request.
  • Provide identifying details of the case and subject of interest, to the fullest extent possible

Written requests for assistance must be transmitted via the NLETS system to "DCINTERØØ" (text only); faxed on official agency letterhead to (202) 616-8400, or submitted by secure email through domains that include FBI.gov, or DHS.gov . In urgent circumstances, INTERPOL Washington will accept an initial request via telephone at (202) 616-3900, but will not transmit information internationally until a written request is received.

Each state and an increasing number of major cities in the U.S. have also established an INTERPOL liaison office for purposes of making, receiving, and coordinating international criminal investigative requests for assistance via INTERPOL Washington. Requests for international criminal assistance by a local, state, or tribal law enforcement office may be sent through the appropriate liaison office or directly to INTERPOL Washington (24/7).

It is INTERPOL Washington's policy to transmit investigative information only through secure/dedicated law enforcement communications systems.

Updated October 21, 2022