British fugitive wanted for drug trafficking arrested in Tenerife
A 36-year-old British man has been arrested by the National Police at Tenerife South Airport in connection with a European Arrest Warrant issued by Portuguese authorities for drug trafficking offences.
The arrest took place last week after border control officers at the airport identified a possible match for a wanted fugitive due to arrive on a Jet2 flight from East Midlands.
Acting swiftly, the officers activated a coordinated response to confirm the suspect’s identity. He was detained at passport control, where authorities verified, he was indeed the individual sought by the Portuguese authorities, and subsequently arrested.
The Brit was allegedly involved in a drug trafficking case in Madeira in 2019. According to the charges, the man and six others were intercepted by Portugal’s Criminal Police outside a hotel on the island while transporting more than 11 kilograms of cocaine which was concealed in backpacks and hand luggage.
The case attracted considerable media attention both in Portugal and the UK at the time.
Following his arrest, the suspect was brought before a judge, who ordered his remand in custody while extradition proceedings to Portugal are underway.
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