The alleged boss of one of Europe’s most feared organised crime gangs has been arrested in London.
Moldovan national Ion Gusan, 54, was dragged from his chauffeur-driven limo by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers near Tower Bridge, ending a long international manhunt.
The Moldovan crime lord, who is thought to have been living in nearby Canary Wharf, was with his family when he was captured, having been on the run for three years.
Gusan, who is also known as “Nicu Patron”, is wanted in France, where last May he was sentenced in absentia to ten years imprisonment under charges including armed robbery, extortion, racketeering, smuggling, money laundering and membership of an organised criminal group.
He is alleged to be the leader of a major Eastern European crime network called “The Patron”, with close links to Russian mafia.
The group, formed in Moldova in the early 2000s, has been linked to migrant smuggling operations into western European countries.
A source familiar with the investigation said: “Gusan has operated in higher echelons of international organised crime for over 25 years. His capture is a significant coup for British law enforcement.”
The arrest has renewed concerns regarding London’s reputation as a safe haven for foreign criminals, with authorities stressing that international cooperation was vital in Gusan’s detention.
Gusan has been remanded in custody by Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and is fighting extradition.
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