Miami, November 2, 2026
Diaz Reus announces that INTERPOL has deleted the Red Notice and associated data concerning its client, Celestino Ignacio Díaz Fernández, following a decision by the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (“CCF”). The decision represents a significant victory for Mr. Díaz and underscores the dangers of using international law enforcement mechanisms to advance private commercial interests.
In its October 7, 2026 decision, the CCF determined that the information submitted by Venezuela in support of the Red Notice failed to satisfy INTERPOL’s rules. After reviewing Venezuela’s submissions and supporting judicial documents, the Commission could not identify any specific criminal conduct attributable to Mr. Díaz or information demonstrating fraudulent intent distinct from what was, in reality, nothing more than a failed business investment. It thus concluded that the allegations appeared more characteristic of a commercial or private dispute than a criminal matter.
INTERPOL deleted the challenged data on October 22, 2026. Its General Secretariat subsequently certified that, as of October 29, 2026, Mr. Díaz was not subject to any INTERPOL Notice or Diffusion. Member countries were informed of the deletion and urged to update their national databases.
The underlying dispute concerns Areppas, a New York restaurant venture that suffered financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As alleged in Mr. Díaz’s pending Miami-Dade County lawsuit, fellow Areppas investor Omar Gerardo Camero sought to turn those commercial losses into personal payment demands against Mr. Díaz, escalating from threats and financial pressure to criminal accusations in Venezuela and an INTERPOL Red Notice.
The complaint further alleges that Mr. Camero leveraged his political connections in Venezuela and his family’s control of Venezuelan media outlet Televen to advance that campaign. According to the complaint, Televen’s broadcasts and social media publications amplified the criminal accusations while omitting essential context: the private and commercial nature of the dispute, Mr. Camero’s role in initiating the accusations, and his interest in obtaining payment from Mr. Díaz.
Diaz Reus considers this case a further example of the pervasive abuse of INTERPOL’s systems by Venezuelan authorities and politically connected private actors, which has been well-documented by the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Díaz’s case illustrates how a private investment dispute can be transformed by politically-connected individuals into international police pressure, with serious consequences for an individual’s reputation, business relationships, and ability to travel.
International police cooperation must serve legitimate law enforcement, and it must never become a means of collecting disputed investments, coercing payment, or giving unsupported accusations the appearance of international legitimacy. The CCF’s decision sends a clear message that INTERPOL’s systems must not be misused to advance private interests, and that such attempts can be defeated when challenged and exposed for what they are: an abuse of international police cooperation.
About Diaz Reus
Diaz Reus International Law Firm operates on five continents, across 40 offices in key business centers, offering a global practice centered around national and international parallel proceedings and business transactions. The firm, its founders, and key partners are world-renowned board-certified experts in International Law, International Litigation & Arbitration, and Immigration & Nationality Law. We are recognized as a Top 100 global law firm by Global Investigations Review (GIR) in sensitive criminal matters involving government and foreign corruption investigations, including money laundering, OFAC & trade sanctions, Foreign Sovereign Immunity (FSIA) disputes, and global asset recovery matters. The firm is also globally recognized by Legal500, Chambers & Partners, Leaders League, Law360, Latinvex and many more.
