By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
A new appeal has launched to locate and bring to justice 12 of the UK’s most wanted fugitives believed to be hiding in, or have links to, Spain.
The offenders, all men, face allegations including murder, drug trafficking, fraud and money laundering.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) runs the Most Wanted campaign with Crimestoppers, Spain’s Interior Ministry, and UK and Spanish police forces.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of Simon Dutton in La Nucia, near Benidorm, after an investigation led by the Guardia Civil. He was one of the 12 fugitives featured in the campaign and now remains in custody in Spain.
Rob Jones, the NCA Director General of Operations, said Spain “is not a safe haven for fugitives”. He added: “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.”
He also warned that the fugitives may try to hide within expatriate communities.
Details of Spain fugitives
Among those listed this year is Alexsandr Kuksov, 23, a Russian national, of involvement in an organised crime group that allegedly laundered millions of pounds between September and October 2022.
Philip Barry Foster, 50, must begin an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for fraud and money laundering linked to a modelling scam.
Dean Eighteen, 48, faces allegations of VAT fraud involving false repayment claims. He is believed to have left the UK in January 2019.
Police Scotland continue to seek Derek McGraw Ferguson, 62, in connection with the 2007 murder of Thomas Cameron in Glasgow. Officials believe he is using an alias.
Spencer Dillon Lamb, 33, faces allegations of drug supply and cultivation offences. He has extensive tattoos.
Liam Michael Murray, 34, faces allegations of involvement in cocaine supply, cannabis offences and handling criminal cash.
Investigators accuse Francis David Parker, 40, of directing drug couriers for the Coggins organised crime group.
Kevin Thomas Parle, 45, remains wanted in relation to the murders of Liam Kelly in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in 2005.
Investigators suspect Matthew Purves, 41, of involvement in a conspiracy to supply multiple kilos of cocaine across the UK.
Police accuse John Rocks, 37, of sexual offences committed between 2012 and 2022.
Authorities suspect Charlie Salisbury of supplying cocaine and laundering proceeds.
Contact information
The NCA said: “Anyone with information about one of the Most Wanted [can] call Crimestoppers anonymously in the UK on 0800 555 111. Callers in Spain should call the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111. This 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.”
The latest list marks the 20th anniversary of Operation Captura, a multi-agency campaign.
Authorities say the operation has led to 98 arrests out of 111 fugitives publicly identified.
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