Recent information on the arrest of Mr Paul Watson in Greenland

On 21 July 2024 Greenland Police arrested the American-Canadian citizen Paul Watson. The arrest was made on the basis of an international arrest warrant from the Japanese authorities.

According to Interpol, the basis for the international arrest warrant is two incidents on the Antarctic Ocean in February 2010 against a Japanese vessel.

The Ministry of Justice has received a formal extradition request regarding Paul Watson from the Japanese authorities. On the 7th of August the Ministry of Justice physically received the documents for the extradition request in verified form. On 26th of August the Ministry of Justice forwarded the case to Greenland Police, as the Ministry of Justice has not found any grounds to, prima facie, reject the extradition request from the Japanese Authorities. Greenland Police has recently, following an investigation of the case, sent an assessment on the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, which will also issue an assessment. Once the Ministry of Justice has received the statements from the Director of Public Prosecutions and Greenland Police, the ministry will make a decision in the case. If a decision is made to extradite, the decision can be brought before the courts.

On October ^2nd the Greenlandic Court decided to prolong the detention of Paul Watson until the 23^rd of October. The decision to prolong the detention has subsequently been affirmed by the Greenlandic High Court.

On the 23rd of October Greenlandic Court decided to prolong the detention of Paul Watson until the 13th of November. The decision to prolong the detention has subsequently been appealed to the Greenlandic High Court.

On the 13^th of November Greenlandic Court decided to prolong the detention of Paul Watson until the 4^th of December. The decision to prolong the detention has subsequently been affirmed by the Greenlandic High Court.