A suspected drug dealer from the northeast of England who is believed to have fled to the Canary Islands in a desperate attempt to evade police has been arrested in Tenerife. The fugitive, who was living in the south of the island, has been arrested after a warrant was authorised for his suspected involvement in a large drugs conspiracy involving cocaine and money laundering.
The international operation was led by the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) and supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Spanish National Police who apprehended the 55-year-old man in Tenerife on Monday (May 20th). He will now remain in police custody while he awaits extradition back to the UK.
Following the arrest, Detective Chief Inspector Daryll Tomlinson, said: “This has been an outstanding display of partnership working between law enforcement agencies working in tandem to execute a warrant abroad and bring a suspect into police custody.”
“I want to thank everyone involved in this operation and I hope it sends a clear message to anyone looking to evade police – we have every tool necessary at our disposal to pursue suspects, dismantle organised crime and protect victims.”
“Work just like this will continue as part of Operation Sentinel – our united front to tackle all forms of Serious and Organised crime.”
NCA International Regional Manager, Neil Keeping, said: “We have National Crime Agency officers based across the globe working day in, day out on behalf of UK law enforcement. The NCA collaborated with the Spanish National Police to verify that the suspect was living in Tenerife and to ensure he was arrested. We’re also working with Spanish judicial authorities, the CPS and UK police to arrange his extradition back to the UK.”
“This is just one of many cases in which the NCA, working with international partners and UK police, is making sure that people wanted in connection with allegations of serious crime have nowhere safe to hide.”
