Arrest of Mr Paul Watson in Greenland

Please find below official information we have about the arrest of Mr Paul Watson in Greenland

On 21 July 2024 Greenland’s 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.

Extradition from Greenland for prosecution in other countries can only occur following an extradition request from the country that issued the arrest warrant. It is the Danish Ministry of Justice that decides whether there is a legal basis for extraditing individuals for prosecution in other countries.

The Danish Ministry of Justice will proceed accordingly upon the receiving of a formal extradition request from the Japanese authorities.