Arrested in Geneva on an Extradition Request or Red Notice: First Steps and Which Court Decides

A Red Notice asks police to locate a person and, where national law allows, provisionally arrest them. It is not itself an international arrest warrant. Swiss law and the treaty applicable to the requesting state govern what happens next. Act promptly, but do not mistake the practical first-48-hours plan below for a statutory 48-hour hearing deadline.

What happens if Geneva Airport police stop you?

An alert may appear during an identity check or border control at Geneva Airport. Geneva’s cantonal Gendarmerie includes the Unité diplomatique et aéroportuaire (UDIPA), whose published duties include airport-site security and certain migration tasks delegated by the Confederation. Judicial Police services also operate at the airport. The public descriptions do not identify one unit that handles every extradition arrest, so ask which authority has custody and request the case reference.

A search alert may reach Swiss authorities through the Schengen Information System (SIS), an INTERPOL channel or directly from a foreign ministry of justice. The canton must inform the FOJ promptly and arrange the required hearing. When the written extradition arrest warrant is formally served, the cantonal authority checks identity, explains ordinary and simplified extradition, advises the person of the right to appeal and appoint a lawyer, and makes the request and supporting papers available to the person and counsel. The person must also be informed of the right to contact their consulate.

Who takes over: Geneva police, the FOJ in Bern or a court?

In short: Geneva police handle local steps; the FOJ in Bern handles the federal file and decision; cantonal authorities conduct the hearing and serve the warrant; and the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona hears the relevant appeal. This describes the route of the file, not a physical transfer to Bern or Bellinzona: the person may remain in cantonal custody. See Extradition from Switzerland for the nationwide stages.

The first 48 hours: a practical action plan, not a legal deadline

This is a practical checklist, not a statutory 48-hour hearing rule. The provisional-request period generally runs from arrest; the ten-day challenge period runs from written service of the warrant.

How long can provisional detention last?

The FOJ’s current guidance says that, unless the applicable treaty provides otherwise, the formal extradition request and supporting documents normally must reach it within 18 days after arrest; the period may be extended up to 40 days. The guidance says the person should be released from that provisional detention if the request is not received in time. That is not a permanent bar to later proceedings: the treaty and procedural history matter, and a later request may support a new detention decision. The 18/40-day period is not a maximum duration for the whole extradition case.

In 1C_768/2025 (Swiss Federal Supreme Court, 5 January 2026), the Court declined further review because the “particularly important case” threshold was not met. Applying Article 16(4) of the European Convention on Extradition, it explained that missing the formal-request period does not necessarily prevent a later arrest or extradition on a subsequent request. Do not assume that the deadline guarantees permanent closure; counsel should assess the applicable treaty, the current detention basis and the chronology of requests.

Swiss extradition is governed by the IMAC together with the treaty applicable to the requesting state. Switzerland is a party to the 1957 European Convention on Extradition. Additional protocols, bilateral treaties and recorded reservations or declarations may change the applicable rules; check the instruments in force between Switzerland and the requesting state. Under its declaration to the Third Additional Protocol, Switzerland permits consent to simplified extradition to be withdrawn until the FOJ authorises surrender, where that Protocol applies. Switzerland is not an EU Member State: an EU arrest warrant or SIS alert may prompt a Swiss check but does not replace the Swiss extradition procedure.

Which court reviews the arrest warrant?

A challenge to the extradition arrest warrant must be filed with the Appeals Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona within ten days of written service of the warrant (IMAC, Article 48(2)). The clock does not start when the person is stopped at Geneva Airport. Give counsel the warrant and proof of service immediately; the filing should state the grounds and the outcome sought, and all court directions must be followed. A separate request for release may be made to the FOJ, but release is exceptional. For refusal grounds, release requests and later appeals, see How to Stop Extradition from Switzerland.

Where might a person arrested in Geneva be held?

The canton confirms that Prison de Champ-Dollon accommodates extradition detainees. Address: Chemin de Champ-Dollon 22, 1241 Puplinge; general phone: +41 22 546 82 00. These details help check custody but do not prove that a particular person is there. If the facility cannot confirm it, ask the arresting authority for the current location and case reference.

Family visits require prior authorisation and an appointment. Call no earlier than 72 hours after applying to check whether authorisation has been granted and book a visit; arrive at least five minutes before the appointment. The visits service answers daily, 07:30–11:30, at +41 22 546 82 89; usual visit slots are 14:00–15:00 and 15:30–16:30, subject to approval. Lawyers can call +41 22 546 82 88; lawyer visits take place on working days, 07:45–10:30 and 13:45–16:30, by appointment for the same or following day. For pre-trial visits, Geneva lists the Public Prosecutor, Criminal Court and Court of Justice as possible competent authorities depending on the case. Because extradition is a federal procedure, ask the custody authority which route applies before travelling.

Geneva police operate 24/7. UDIPA handles airport-site security and certain migration tasks delegated by the Confederation, and Judicial Police services also operate at the airport. These are useful local identifiers, not the extradition decision-maker. If the person is not at Champ-Dollon, ask the responsible authority to confirm the location.

What should family or a foreign lawyer send now?

• Full name, date and place of birth, nationality, passport details and spelling variants.
• Arrest date, time and place; police unit, custody authority and case reference, if known.
• The warrant, foreign request or notice, hearing record and proof of service dates.
• Identity and residence records, family responsibilities, work or study, and relevant medical needs.
• Requesting state, alleged offence, purpose of the request and earlier proceedings about the same events.
• A clear chronology and usable translations. Preserve originals; never alter or fabricate records.

Hypothetical example: a Georgian citizen is stopped at Geneva Airport after an SIS alert. Counsel should verify custody, issue and service of the Swiss warrant, the start of the ten-day clock, the appeal’s grounds and conclusions, and the treaty deadline for the formal request.

An inaccurate or politically motivated notice may require a separate INTERPOL data challenge, which does not automatically suspend detention. See how to check a Red Notice and CCF representation.

For case-specific advice, the site’s team can coordinate cross-border defence with local counsel. Send the case details for an initial assessment.