Vitalie Pirlog, a former senior Interpol official, has been arrested in Dubai under a request from France. He is implicated in a corruption scheme that allowed fugitives to bypass arrest alerts, facing charges that include forgery and bribery.
Former Interpol Leader Arrested in Corruption Case
Former Interpol Leader Arrested in Corruption Case
A high-ranking former Interpol official is detained in the UAE for alleged corruption involving the manipulation of arrest notices.
A former senior official from Interpol has been detained in the United Arab Emirates following an arrest alert issued by France. Vitalie Pirlog, who led a significant commission within Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, is sought by both France and Moldova due to a vast investigation that uncovered a mechanism allowing fugitives to have their red notices—international arrest alerts—overturned through illicit payments to corrupt officials.
The UAE’s Ministry of Interior confirmed Mr. Pirlog's apprehension on Sunday, stating that he is facing numerous charges, including forgery, bribery, and fraud. Mr. Pirlog's lawyer in Chisinau, Moldova's capital, opted not to comment, while a spokesperson for Interpol maintained that the case falls under local jurisdiction in the UAE.
Previously serving from 2017 to 2022, Mr. Pirlog managed a commission within Interpol that scrutinized and evaluated red notices. His career included roles as justice minister and intelligence director in Moldova. After departing Interpol, he moved to Dubai, where he drew the attention of French and Moldovan investigators probing how numerous criminals evaded arrest despite having active Interpol notifications against them.
