Police release list of British fugitives hiding in Spain

BRITISH and Spanish police have released a joint list of the most wanted British fugitives hiding out in Spain – which includes cocaine dealers, paedophiles and suspected murderers.

The list, dubbed the “unlucky thirteen” was unveiled by Spanish police together with the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) in Madrid as part of Operation Captura.

It covers the most dangerous criminals on the run today, including Ian Stanton, 42, the suspected head of a £90 million cocaine-smuggling ring.

Stanton’s gang is thought to have been responsible for a 400kg shipment of cocaine bound for Wigan, which police intercepted inside a shipment of Argentinian beef.

Another high priority for police is Michael McCartney, 78, from Letchworth, a convicted child abuser.

McCartney was found to have groomed and abused three children, and was convicted of nine different charges in March 2013 before fleeing the country prior to sentencing.

Robert Mortby, 26, from London, is suspected of attempted murder after attacking a man outside a south London pub.

The victim, who had been drinking at the Rose and Crown in July last year, was struck with a bottle and then shot three times.

Brian Thexton, 37, from Durham, is accused of a host of crimes. As well as drug dealing he is suspected of breaking into houses, before tying up the owners and threatening them with pick-axes and baseball bats before robbing them.

Hank Cole from the NCA said: “They are a mixture of serious criminals ranging from alleged sex offenders, those who’ve committed or attempted to commit murder, and significant drug traffickers.

“So these are the worst or most serious criminals that the National Crime Agency is looking to capture.

“Historically Spain had no extradition treaty to the UK so it was seen as a safe haven for UK criminals, since then the law has changed and we’ve successfully extradited large numbers of UK criminals back to the UK.”

The successful multi-agency campaign identifies serious criminals on the run wanted by UK law enforcement agencies for crimes committed in the UK. Since Operation Captura launched in October 2006, 53 out of 63 criminals have been arrested, with many now behind bars.

Anyone with information relating to the suspects can contact the Olive Press on 951117006 or email [email protected]

Find out more about the launch of the NCA here.