One of the UK’s “most wanted” fugitives has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of importing large amounts of cocaine into Britain.
Simon Dutton, 49, originally from Bolton in Greater Manchester, was wanted by police for cocaine importation, money laundering, false passport offences and breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
He was arrested in La Nucia, near Benidorm, according to the National Crime Agency.
Dutton had been wanted for a recall to prison and had been sentenced for organising large-scale cocaine importations. The agency said one interception was valued at £1.5 million.
It came just hours after the agency released its latest public appeal, which named him among 12 other suspects believed to be hiding in Spain.
The NCA has been cracking down on fugitives hiding in Spain as part of its Operation Captura scheme.
The operation, which has been running for two decades, has resulted in 98 of 111 offenders and suspects being caught through 11 public appeals naming most-wanted criminals.
The NCA’s Director General in Operations, Rob Jones, said criminals flee to Spain in the hopes of "blending" in with British ex-pats. Often, these criminals continue to offend while living in Spain.
“As we mark the 20th anniversary of Operation Captura, our message is very clear. Spain is not a safe haven for fugitives and this partnership has shown time and again that if you run, we will not stop looking. We will find you, and we will bring you back to face justice.
“Fugitives rarely stop offending while on the run. They continue to harm communities in both Spain and the UK, and attempt to stay under the radar by blending into large British ex-pat populations. These are not people you want in your neighbourhood.”
In the past year alone, 56 criminals have been extradited back to the UK from Spain.
Mr Jones added that the remainder of fugitives in the latest appeal are believed to have links in Tenerife, Marbella, Alicante and Malaga, with several of the men wanted in connection with drug offences.
One suspect, Derek McGraw Ferguson, is wanted in connection with the 2007 murder of Thomas Cameron in Glasgow.
Anyone with information about one of the Most Wanted is urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously in the UK on 0800 555 111, and callers in Spain should call the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111, which will be answered by Crimestoppers in the UK (using translation if required).
Alternatively, members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form at the UK charity’s website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/spain.
We encourage anyone living in or visiting Spain to visit the NCA and Crimestoppers websites and look at the individuals who are Most Wanted.
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