For a fugitive from justice, there is no better way to hide than in plain sight, surrounded by people who speak the same language and have similar customs. This is what happens with British fugitives, who usually hide in southern Europe, and preferably in Spain, to escape from the authorities of their country. This is the reason why the Ministry of the Interior, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom (NCA) and the organization Crimestoppers have presented in Alicante the twentieth edition of Operation Capture, with which they pursue the location of the 12. By this means, since 2006, images and physical data of 111 criminals have been issued, of which 98 have already been captured, 47 of them in Spain and seven more in peninsular territory, in Gibraltar (2) and Portugal (5).
Two murderers, a sexual offender, six criminals linked to him and three more related to crimes of fraud and money laundering, among whom is a former television actor, are the protagonists of the latest campaign. Almost all of them have been detected with links to Malaga, the Costa Blanca of Alicante and the Canary Islands, according to Rick Jones, deputy director of the NCA, who participated in a presentation to the media in Alicante. Their names, faces and physical features are now available to anyone on the website of , an independent organization that ensures the confidentiality of citizens who detect any of these criminals in their environment. “People want to do the right thing, but they are afraid to contact the police,” says Mark Hallas, executive director of this project. “Here we do not ask names or ask for personal details,” he continues, “if any Spaniard or expat [británicos que viven en el extranjero] If you know someone, let them know.” “Do not approach them, do not let them know that you have discovered them,” adds Jones.
Another of those appearing, Francisco Javier Marín, director of the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO), an agency dependent on the Ministry of the Interior, states that organized crime, in all its variants, “is increasingly versatile, fast, interconnected and violent.” Circumstances that excavate escape tunnels to any part of the planet. “Spain is one of the preferred destinations for the British and, therefore, also for criminals who try to hide,” he explains, “therefore, we have the need to maintain constant surveillance” so that the fugitives are convinced that “Spain is not a safe haven.” Marín points out that “with their captures”, justice is done. “The wounds of the victims are healed” and “future crimes are prevented, since many continue to commit crimes immersed in new criminal networks,” he states.
Rob Jones, director of operations of the NCA, agrees with him, for whom arrests “are imperative.” To this end, both Marín and Jones highlight the good harmony between the police teams of both countries, which has ensured that “Spain is not a safe haven for criminals.” With the support of a “practical and proven tool”, that of citizen intervention. “This life leaves a trace,” emphasizes the senior NCA official, “it raises suspicions among neighbors,” who do not usually “want these people in their communities.” “If you recognize the face or the name sounds familiar, you can help,” Jones asks his fellow citizens. That they are a multitude, as the Minister Counselor of the British Embassy in Madrid, Sarah Cowley, recalled: “19 million Britons traveled to Spain last year and about 400,000 live here.”
Outside the list of the most wanted, Interior sources point out that, since 2019, the State Security Forces and Corps have detained 254 British fugitives in Spain with international search and capture warrants. Málaga, with 86 arrests, and Alicante, with 54, top the list of provinces with the highest number of arrests. But right now, the greatest efforts are concentrated on these 12 men, 11 British and one Russian.
Kevin Thomas Speaks
Alleged murderer of 16-year-old Liam Kelley in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in 2005, both in Liverpool. 45 years. Redhead. He is very tall, about 2 meters, and burly. It has already been included in previous campaigns. He is related to links in southern Spain.
Derek McGraw Ferguson
Linked to the murder of Thomas Cameron in 2007 near Glasgow. Light eyes, brown or gray hair, bald. Around 1.60 meters tall.
Philip Barry Foster
Sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for fraud and money laundering. Actor in television series. He convinced his victims that he could make them famous with low-quality photographs for which he charged large amounts of money. Around 50 years. Dark hair. Related to Marbella.
Charlie Salisbury
Accused of supplying cocaine and laundering the money from its sale. 1.70 meters tall. Short brown hair. He has a koi carp and a dragon tattooed on his right arm. His right calf is also tattooed. With possible links in Malaga.
Francis David Parker
Considered part of the Coggins organized gang, specialized in shipping cocaine and heroin to various locations, for which he also acted as a collector. Brown or gray hair and a robust build.
John Rocks
The Scottish Police are looking for him for sexual assaults. In the photo he appears shaved and with a red goatee. With possible links in Benidorm.
Spencer Dillon Lamb
Accused of cultivation and supply of drugs. 33 years old, 1.90 meters tall. He has several tattoos on his head, neck, arms and abdomen. He also has a scar under his left eye.
Matthew Purves
Involved in the supply of cocaine to different parts of the United Kingdom. 1.83 meters tall, slim and with light brown hair. With contacts in the south of Spain. Well known in several countries, it may have links with Tenerife.
Alexsandr Kuksov
Involved in an organized group that laundered millions of pounds from crime in 2022. 23 years old, Russian national. Robust and with brown hair.
Dean Eighteen
Accused of fraudulently claiming £7.8 million of VAT (British VAT) for two companies of which he was sole director. 48 years old, brown hair. He is believed to have left the United Kingdom in 2019 and is being pursued throughout Spain.
Simon Dutton
He organized cocaine exports from the United Kingdom to Spain. A police operation seized 10.5 kilos of this drug from their businesses. He is also accused of falsifying his passport. He is very tall, around 1.90 meters, with a medium build and dark hair. It has been detected in several locations in Spain.
Liam Michael Murray
Accused of drug trafficking and money laundering. 34 years old, medium build, dark hair. With possible links in Alicante.
