A British fugitive who wanted to be accused of drug and firearm crime was arrested at Lisbon Airport when he tried to enter Portugal with a fraudulent passport.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has described the 29-year-old Alex Male as “one of the most sought after men in the UK.”
He was detained at Lisbon Airport on April 30, had just arrived on a plane from Turkey, and was denied entry hours before the Turkish border guard noticed the document.
The man is believed to have used the encrypted communication platform EncroChat to distribute class A drugs such as cocaine and ketamine throughout the southwestern United Kingdom.
He has also been accused of attempting money laundering and the acquisition of firearms as part of drug trafficking activities from April to June 2020.
The man was added to the NCA’s most important nominations in January after being arrested by the Southwestern Regional Organized Crime Unit (SW ROCU) as part of Operation Wenetic, a British law enforcement activity targeting organized crime groups. it was done.
He previously ran in the Marbella region of Spain before moving to Portugal.
Phil Robinson, NCA International Liaison Officer, said he was “happy” with the arrest of the fugitive, adding that the man’s “dangerous crime” “had a devastating effect on the community.”
Robinson said: However, he underestimated the vigilance and expertise of the Turkish Border Police, which allowed the Portuguese authorities to act. “
He said the NCA “continues to work with international partners to close the net around the fugitive, wherever the fugitive is.”
SWROCU investigator Adrian Hawkins said:
“Men are returned to the UK criminal justice system to face allegations of escape, which ensures that international law enforcement agencies work together to enforce justice and that hiding places are unsafe. This is an example shown. “
The man will remain detained in Portugal and will face delivery procedures.
PA Media contributed to this report.
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