VIDEO: Fugitive British drug smuggler is arrested at Costa Blanca villa

10/16/23, 9:16 AM By Guardia Civil Costa Blanca Photo Credit: Guardia Civil / NCA Video Credit: Mail Online

A 35-year-old British man wanted on international charges related to alleged drug offences has been apprehended by the Guardia Civil on the Costa Blanca. The fugitive was detained in the coastal town of Javea, located to the north of Alicante, following a joint operation involving law enforcement agencies from both Spain and the UK.

The arrest was made on the basis of an international arrest warrant, signifying the severity of the charges against him, as authorities from the UK's National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police, as well as officers from the Guardia Civils elite UCO Central Operative Unit, collaborated in this operation.

According to Spanish law enforcement sources, the detainee has been directly implicated in the illicit importation of substantial quantities of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and money laundering activities, all within the UK. His alleged involvement in these criminal activities was discovered through meticulous analysis of encrypted communications on the Encrochat network.

A spokesperson for the Guardia Civil confirmed the arrest, stating, "We have arrested a British man who had been wanted by authorities in his country since 2020 for drug trafficking, money laundering, and being a member of a criminal organization. Specifically, he has been directly linked to the importation of large quantities of various drugs into the UK, following investigative work on intercepted encrypted servers used by multiple criminal organizations for their communications."

This arrest came after weeks of intensive but discreet efforts by UCO officers, who successfully located the fugitive's associates in the province of Alicante, ultimately leading to his apprehension in the town of Javea. Subsequently, a search was conducted at the location where he had been hiding, with the active participation of detectives from the National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police.

The arrested man is now in custody awaiting extradition back to the UK. The arrest highlights the ongoing international efforts to combat drug-related criminal activities to bring fugitives to justice.