British Man Spared INTERPOL Red Notice After Qatar Vape Arrest
A British national never expected a simple online order to lead to arrest, imprisonment, and a looming international legal threat. While staying in Qatar, he purchased two clothing items and a CBD e-cigarette online. But when one clothing item was unavailable, the seller substituted five CBD vapes, without warning him that these products were illegal in Qatar, despite their widespread and visible use.
He was jailed for 23 days before being released and allowed to return home to England. He believed the matter was over. It wasn’t.
Months later, he learned that Qatari authorities had prosecuted him in absentia, sentencing him to three months in prison and a fine of around US$2,500. Shocked and alarmed, he feared the next step would be an INTERPOL Red Notice, a tool Qatar has notoriously misused in the past.
One of the most well-known examples is the case of Scottish national Conor Howard, who was allowed to leave Qatar, only to be reported to INTERPOL later. He was arrested while on holiday in Greece and detained for four months awaiting extradition proceedings. Although he ultimately won his case, the ordeal inflicted serious harm on him and his family.
“Conor’s case really stuck with my client,” said Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Doha and Due Process International. “He was blindsided by a Red Notice after being allowed to leave Qatar, exactly the kind of scenario we were determined to prevent.”
He engaged Radha Stirling, an two decades long expert in the field and founder of IPEX (Interpol and Extradition) Reform who also represented Conor Howard. Stirling launched a preventative submission to INTERPOL. The goal was to block any potential Red Notice before it could be issued, highlighting Qatar’s history of abuse, the disproportionality of the charges, and the human rights concerns involved.
The outcome was a clear success. The client was neither listed nor detained, and his ability to travel remains fully protected.
“Travelling is massively important to me, and the ability to do so safely is a huge relief,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful to Radha for protecting my freedom. Her support has been invaluable.”
Radha Stirling commented,
“Qatar’s misuse of INTERPOL as a tool of retaliation is well-documented. Like in Conor Howard’s case, the aim is not extradition, but to cause disruption and distress. Our job is to stop that abuse before it starts and in this case, we did.”
If you’re concerned about a potential Red Notice from Qatar or another Gulf country, contact us now for a confidential assessment. Acting early can mean the difference between freedom and detention.
