THE arrest of a notorious British drug trafficker in Benidorm on Thursday has once again shone a spotlight on the Costa Blanca’s murky criminal underworld.
Simon Dutton, 49, was snared by Spanish police on the same day the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) released a fresh list of 12 fugitives believed to be hiding in Spain
Dutton was wanted by Greater Manchester Police for a recall to prison for cocaine importing, money laundering, false passport offences and breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
The latest high-profile arrest comes just a month after a Torrevieja judge revoked bail for Jonny Smyth, the chief suspect in the murder of father-of-two John George.
READ MORE: Suspect in John George murder has his bail revoked by Costa Blanca court
George’s body was discovered dumped in a field near Rojales, close to Torrevieja, in January 2025 after he vanished a month earlier while staying with Smyth in Cabo Roig on the Orihuela Costa.
As the investigation intensifies, the Olive Press has spoken to several sources to build a clearer picture of the man now at the heart of the case.
Who is Jonny Smyth?
Jonny Smyth, full name Jonathan Alan Smyth, is understood to have grown up in Rathcoole, a run-down loyalist housing estate in Newtonabbey on the outskirts of Belfast.
READ MORE: John George murder suspect is shot dead in the middle of a Costa Blanca street
His mother, Dawn Smyth, is listed as a director of Admiral Care Services in County Antrim, alongside her husband, Richard. Accounts filed earlier this year showed the company held more than €410,000 in cash reserves at the end of the 2025 financial year.
Her 27-year-old son is understood to have moved to Spain several years ago, reportedly telling acquaintances he wanted to escape the ‘ghetto’ of his native Northern Ireland.
Once on the Costa Blanca, Smyth began flaunting a lavish lifestyle online that included luxury watches, high-ends cars, a Harley Davidson motorbike and at least two houses on the Costa Blanca – one in Altea and another in Benidorm.
In one video, he can be seen showing off a shiny Rolex worth around €17,000. He also drove a swanky BMW X6, valued at nearly €100,000.
Quite how Smyth funded his party lifestyle remains unclear.
He cuts a distinctive figure, with heavily tattooed arms and legs and the word ‘Blessed’ inked above one eyebrow.
Smyth is married to Madison Allen, 21, an OnlyFans model currently under investigation for manslaughter after a fatal crash near Alicante earlier this year in which a 54-year-old British man died.
The couple reportedly tied the knot at a low-key ceremony in Gibraltar while Smyth was on the run from a European arrest warrant.
Sources say the couple quickly got hitched to ensure access to conjugal visits in prison once Smyth was arrested and then extradited to Spain.
Under Spanish law, prisoners are permitted private, unsupervised visits of up to three hours with a spouse – typically once every four to eight weeks.
Prior to Smyth’s arrest in Braga, Portugal in March 2025, the couple regularly made explicit video content for Madison’s OnlyFans platform.
READ MORE: John George breakthrough: Suspect arrested in Portugal over murder of Northern Irish father in Spain
Smyth was then released from prison in December 2025, but the couple were arrested again just months later after allegedly being caught with a cache of illegal weapons.
Police pulled the couple over while they were travelling in their van, with Smyth reportedly brandishing a pistol at officers.
A 9mm Star pistol was discovered in the van, while a search of their home in Moralet, near Alicante, uncovered a disassembled revolver and a sawn-off shotgun.
Other items seized included a bulletproof vest, a balaclava, two gloves, a gun magazine, more than 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition and two knives.
Speaking to El Español, one of John George’s sisters described Smyth as a ‘bad, dangerous sort’, allegedly linked to firearms and drugs.
READ MORE: John George murder suspect is extradited to Spain: 26-year-old was arrested in Portugal
Another source told the Olive Press he was a ‘shady character’ and ‘unpleasant individual’.
Last month, a court revoked Smyth’s €100,000 bail and ordered his return to custody.
A judge ruled that Smyth and wife Madison had ‘disrespected the justice system’ after appearing to mock the grieving George family in social media posts.
The victim’s family told The Belfast Telegraph they were relieved by the decision and thanked the judge for considering all of the information presented to the court.
Smyth is expected to remain behind bars while the preliminary murder investigation continues.
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