Consider being hunted by government officials, enraged creditors, a vengeful ex-spouse, or a hitman with a bounty on your head. You’ll need a new identity to locate Countries to become invisible in and a place to hide under the radar until things calm down or potentially for the rest of your life.
If there would you go if the world was your oyster and you had to flee with a new identity? Your initial thought might be to seek refuge in one of the Countries to become invisible. It would help if you were cautious because not all of them are created equal.
Of course, I’m not advising you to run away from the law using a new identity. Consider what would happen if the government increased the stakes in one of its espionage programs, if the government changed the rules to make your firm illegal, or if you owed a violent casino boss millions… Where would you go if you needed to get away? Which Countries to become invisible in with a new identity? Would you alter your appearance, get a tattoo, or go as far as Johnny Depp did in the critically panned film The Tourist by implanting a voice chip to mask your speech?
Take a look at Julian Assange or Edward Snowden, for example. US Secretary of State John Kerry took to the radio to condemn Snowden, saying he must return to the United States and “face punishment.” Because he exposed the government’s secrets, Snowden was long seen as the public’s worst adversary and has spent years seeking sanctuary outside Russia. Of course, the US government will devote far more resources to locating Edward Snowden than it will to locating many others. After all, they have a lot of eggs on their faces due to Snowden’s actions. And he managed to wake up a few individuals, including the German government, to the realities of America’s massive surveillance apparatus.
However, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to disappear, keep the following in mind. Governments do not always respect non-extradition laws. In 2016, for example, 1007 persons were extradited from Canada, Mexico, and Colombia, most of whom were brought back to the United States. Drug traffickers made up around half of the group, but others were involved in fraud, manslaughter, and pornography. Even without an extradition treaty, countries like Spain and Yemen in the Middle East have been known to return fugitives. They make it very simple for friendly nations to detain citizens on their territory.
However, there are situations when countries with extradition treaties refuse to cooperate. One example is Cuba, home to nearly a hundred fugitives. Although the US and Cuba have a pact, it is rarely used due to tense diplomatic ties. What the current reconciliation between the two countries means for extradition is uncertain.
Where can I look for countries that do not have extradition treaties, countries to become invisible in?
The consensus is that anyone seeking refuge in one of these non-extradition countries must go to the farthest reaches of the globe. But this isn’t always the case. I’ve always wondered why people fleeing the law wind up in places like Spain. Do they believe that some European country that goes along to get along will defend them? You might as well have stayed home if you’re not a Spanish citizen, even with a new identity. States, particularly the United States, is known for fabricating allegations that would force most Western governments to hand you over in seconds. While Brunei isn’t precisely a constitutionalist’s dream, it is one of the wealthiest countries in the world without an extradition pact with the United States. This is precisely why Russia and China will not be pushed around by the US government in the same way that smaller countries are frequently subjected to.
Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman are among the affluent Gulf republics that do not have an extradition pact. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates don’t have one either, despite their governments’ statements that they don’t want to provide a sanctuary for “criminals.” Nonetheless, Dubai is home to Thailand’s deposed prime minister. Although I doubt you’d be welcomed with open arms into the cultures even with a new identity of these Middle Eastern countries, living in a country with more air-conditioned shopping malls and Rolls Royces than any other doesn’t seem like a dire punishment.
Jordan and Lebanon, both in the Middle East, have no extradition treaties; deeper into Asia, a slew of countries refuse to cooperate with the US government. Regarding Asia, China is rarely listed as a country that does not extradite, although it does not have an extradition pact with the US. Before you dismiss the thought of living in China, keep in mind that it is twice the size of the United States and offers any lifestyle you might choose for your time on the go, from five-star ultra-chic to backpacker inexpensive. Meanwhile, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Mongolia, which are quickly expanding, are all exempt from extradition. I’d even argue that living in any of those countries would boost your commercial success, whether you were hiding away or not. As a “punishment,” someone should establish “no extradition tours,” forcing people to start enterprises in fast-growing boom areas.
Do you enjoy going to the beach? Non-extradition countries include the Maldives, Vanuatu, and Tunisia. So is Indonesia, where the economy has grown at such a breakneck pace that a real estate bubble is forming at breakneck speed. Jakarta is, nonetheless, the cheapest city in the region. Bali, of course, is also found in Indonesia. Ethiopia and Botswana, two of Africa’s most prosperous countries, have no extradition treaties. Countries that do not extradite vs. countries with no diplomatic connections course, there are some places where you wouldn’t want to hide. They are places with no diplomatic links with your nation and do not have an extradition treaty. Even this time of year, I don’t think Mogadishu would appeal to many people. Despite what the Western media would have you believe, I’m sure it’s more habitable. There’s even a Free Somalia Project that encourages people to relocate there.
What about North Korea, for example, anyone?
Similarly, I could argue that most regions of Iran aren’t as horrible as Western media would have people believe, but I doubt there would be many takers. If you’re an American, the only non-war zones on the list of countries with no diplomatic connections are Cuba and Bhutan, an isolated Asian nation with no traffic lights all sound like Countries to become invisible. Countries that the US has declared enemies could be one of your best choices, especially since the CIA could always come in and seize you, extradition country or not. Other countries include African countries such as Western Sahara, one writer described as “a Bond villain-worthy anarchist state.” In such countries, there is little to no infrastructure, and it is unlikely that you would be discovered using a new identity. Of course, if you turn up as a white guy wearing a diamond Rolex, you could get some attention. If you like Latin culture, despite Venezuela having one of the first extradition accords with the US, Hugo Chavez has not always followed through. I don’t think the new administration will either even with you using a new identity. Laws are designed to be interpreted at their discretion by guys like this.
Although this is true of all governments. Perhaps such a location would be ideal for hiding. After all, you’re reading this site implies that you’re a bit of a skeptic who doesn’t believe everyone is shot the moment they leave the United States. You have to accept that your government isn’t above breaking the rules; you may recall hearing about the CIA executing “unfavorable individuals” in Ecuador’s jungles. Who needs an extradition treaty when you have the law of the jungle? The distinction between not extraditing and not having an extradition treaty. Just because a country does not have an extradition pact with another country does not mean it never extradites offenders. It simply means that there is no set procedure for doing so diplomatically. Some countries have been known to invade foreign soil and seize anybody they like, invasion of Panama in 1989. In other circumstances, they approach the non-extradition country first and demand that they hand over the person.
Dual citizenship can be advantageous in this situation. Some countries refuse to extradite their citizens, regardless of the circumstances. Brazil and Venezuela are both on the list. (However, don’t fall for the “fast” approach to obtain a grey market passport in Venezuela, which can cost thousands of dollars and land you in jail. There are global hideaways where you may spend your days if you’re waiting for a knock on the door, and judging by the appearance of some of these locales; things could be worse.
Starting over with a new identity, anonymous travel, and anonymous living in Countries to become invisible is extremely difficult, make one small mistake in the process and you will fail. When your life and liberty are on the line, trust Amicus Intranational Consulting to deliver a safe, legal, and secure new identity.
