National Police admits errors in fugitive list, including deceased individuals

The National Police has admitted to significant flaws in its fugitive list, acknowledging that individuals who have died, been apprehended, or completed their legal proceedings may still appear as fugitives. This discrepancy creates "ghost profiles" and undermines the tool's credibility.

The problem arises from a lack of automatic updates. When a person's status changes, such as being captured or deceased, their information remains on the wanted list unless responsible departments formally submit documentation for removal. Even individuals who have settled debts or served their sentences can remain listed if the Public Ministry, Judiciary, or defense attorneys fail to notify the police of the case's closure.

For instance, the profile of Jhon Brandol Bidó Pérez, who died in November 2025, remained active on the police website since March of the current year. This persistence occurs because the registry administrators have not received a formal cancellation notice from the department that issued the original warrant. In some cases, identity validation with the Central Electoral Board (JCE) is also required to confirm if a national ID has been canceled.

The National Police manages a database of approximately 90,000 individuals with arrest warrants, with about 60,000 currently active. The force recognizes the need to improve system interoperability so that information on deaths, captures, and judicial status changes can be more directly integrated into the public registry. They are working to establish a faster channel for operational units to report immediate captures or deaths, allowing profiles to be temporarily removed from public view while legal documentation is processed.