Vietnam hands over two Interpol red notice suspects to South Korea

The transfer was carried out by the Bac Ninh Provincial Police in coordination with the investigative office of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security.

Interpol, known as the International Criminal Police Organization, facilitates cross-border police cooperation but does not have arrest powers of its own.

An Interpol red notice is a request circulated to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition or other legal action.

According to arrest records, Jo Jungwoo, 27, a South Korean national, is accused of serving as chief executive of an illegal private financial organization that issued large sums of money as loans between July 16, 2024 and September 10, 2025.

Authorities said he conducted 691 lending transactions at interest rates of up to 49.1 percent, collecting profits above legally permitted limits.

The second suspect, Sim Hyeonjoon, 24, also a South Korean national, was allegedly a member of the same illegal financial network.

He is accused of making 503 loans at interest rates ranging from 28 to 49.1 percent between February 1 and September 10, 2025, in violation of regulations.

A court in Ansan, under South Korea’s Suwon District Court, issued arrest warrants for both suspects on November 25, 2025, police said.

ICPO-Interpol issued international red notices on January 9, 2026.

Vietnamese authorities said the two men were located in early January in Dong Nguyen Ward, Bac Ninh Province, and were arrested following a coordinated operation involving immigration authorities, local police, and specialized units of the Ministry of Public Security.

Both suspects admitted to the alleged offenses during questioning.