A Liverpool man who was arrested in Dubai in relation to drug offences is awaiting extradition back to the UK.
Michael Paul Moogan, 35, was arrested on April 23 during a joint operation between the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Dubai police.
Moogan, originally from Croxteth, had been wanted since police raided the Cafe De Ketel in Rotterdam in 2013.
After the raid in 2013 the NCA said that the cafe was used by drug gangs and was not open to the public.
Today the NCA confirmed that Moogan was still in custody in the UAE, and was awaiting extradition back to the UK.
The NCA have said that Moogan , who was one of the UK's most wanted men, is thought to have entered the UAE using a different name.
In a statement last month a spokesman said: "NCA officers established Moogan was using numerous false identities to avoid capture.
"Dubai Police believe that after entering the UAE using a different identity, he tried to avoid CCTV in an attempt to elude detectives. Utilising the latest capabilities, including the Criminal Data Analysis Centre, they were able to track him down."
The NCA have said Moogan is suspected of importing drugs from Latin America to the EU.
Robert Gerrard, 57, also from Liverpool, who was also wanted in relation to the same drug conspiracy, later handed himself into the authorities after spending several years on the run.
Gerrard, a well known Merseyside crook, claimed the stress of being a fugitive had taken its toll.
He travelled to Rotterdam and met international drug traffickers to plan the movement of drugs from Latin America to the EU.
Gerrard, known as 'Bobby' admitted being part of a conspiracy to import 62kgs of cocaine into the UK in May and June 2013.
Jailing Gerrard for 13 years and four months Judge Patrick Field QC told him: “Yours was a highly sophisticated and well planned operation.”
Moogan is the 86th person arrested under Operation Captura – an NCA fugitive campaign run in conjunction with Crimestoppers.
Senior officers welcomed Moogan's arrest last month.
NCA Director of Investigations Nikki Holland said: “This arrest is the result of years of investigation involving a range of law enforcement partners in the UK, Europe and Middle East.
“We are extremely grateful to those partners for their assistance in ensuring Moogan now faces justice and particularly thank the Dubai Police for their efforts to track him down. He will be returned to the United Kingdom to face trial.
“This case should serve as a warning to others on the run from the NCA – we have a global reach, we never give up and they can never rest easy.”
NCA Director General (Operations) Steve Rodhouse added: “The arrest of Moogan further reflects great co-operation between the Dubai Police and the NCA.
“I’d like to commend their work, in particular detectives from the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai, who showed exceptional professionalism and were able to use all the techniques at their disposal to locate him and carry out this operation.”
