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. The Greenland Police will now initiate the investigations necessary to determine whether there is basis for extradition. The matter of extradition will thereafter be submitted through the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Ministry of Justice for decision.
On September 4th the Greenlandic Court decided to prolong the detention of Paul Watson until the 2nd of October. The decision has been appealed to the Greenlandic High Court.
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. The Greenland Police will now initiate the investigations necessary to determine whether there is basis for extradition. The matter of extradition will thereafter be submitted through the Director of Public Prosecutions to the Ministry of Justice for decision.
On September 4th the Greenlandic Court decided to prolong the detention of Paul Watson until the 2nd of October. The decision has been appealed to the Greenlandic High Court.