Operation Captura targets UK crime suspects in Spain

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has released details of 13 wanted individuals who are believed to be hiding in Spain.

The 13, who are wanted as part of the NCA’s campaign to capture wanted criminals on-the-run called Operation Captura, are alleged to have committed offences ranging from attempted murder to sexual offences against a child and Class A drug dealing.

Operation Captura is a multi-agency campaign involving UK and Spanish law enforcement agencies, crime charity Crimestoppers, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Madrid as well as the NCA and has been running since 2006. It highlights individuals who have European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) outstanding.

To date, 53 out of the 63 criminals highlighted by Captura have been arrested.

Hank Cole, head of International Operations for the NCA, said: “The NCA and its partners have the capability to pursue fugitives relentlessly.

Spain is not a safe haven. The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing with the Spanish authorities has been vital to many of these arrests. The most important thing though is the power of this campaign to harness the eyes and ears of the public, both here and in Spain.”

The chair and founder of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft, said Captura was dependent on the UK and Spanish public for success.

“The fact we are able to once again launch Operation Captura is an indication of how successful the last seven years have been since its inception,” he said.

“However, despite our success so far, there are still a number of dangerous criminals who see Spain as a safe haven to hide from their past, but with the support of the Spanish and UK public, we can hunt them out and bring them to justice.”

Men wanted under the recent release include:

•Daniel Bowes, Ian Stanton and Christopher Mealey, who are all separately accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine offences;

•Stephen Blundell and David Mather, who are both wanted for separate conspiracy to supply heroin offences;

•Daniel Dugic and Robert Knight, who are alleged to have separately conspired to import cocaine;

•David Hewson, for conspiracy to supply cocaine;

•Michael McCartney, who is wanted on nine counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child and inciting sexual activity involving penetration;

•Robert Mortby, accused of attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of a firearm without a firearm certificate;

•Brian Thexton, accused of two conspiracy to commit robbery offences, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to convert criminal property and conspiracy to supply cocaine, as well as a conspiracy to steal conviction.

.After the list was published, Thexton was reported to have evaded Lancashire Police in Lancaster;

•Keith Turner, accused of four obtaining property by deception offences; and

•Lee Willis, accused of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, as well as having convictions for possession of cocaine and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.