Drug trafficking suspect held after eight years on run
ONE of Britain’s most wanted men – on the run for eight years for his suspected part in an international drug trafficking plot – has been arrested in Dubai.
Michael Paul Moogan, 35, evaded international police using false identities, the National Crime Agency (NCA) claimed today.
He was named as a fugitive in 2013 following a raid on a Netherlands cafe thought to be a front for an international drug cartel running cocaine to the UK.
Working with the Dutch National Crime Squad, the NCA found a suspected link between Moogan and two other British men to the shady Caf de Ketel in Rotterdam.
The high-security venue – which was not open to the public – was thought to be central in a plot to ship hundreds
of kilos of cocaine to the UK every week.
But at the time of the raid, just one man, Robert Hamilton, 71, from Manchester, was found. He was later jailed for eight years after admitting drug charges.
The second man allegedly linked to Moogan – Robert Gerard, 57, from Liverpool – handed himself in after three years. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and got 14 years.
Dubai Police believe
Moogan, also from Liverpool, entered the UAE using a different identity and tried to avoid CCTV in an attempt to elude detectives.
He was captured on April 21 in Dubai following a joint operation between Dubai Police and the NCA which scrutinised data.
Moogan is the 86th person arrested under Operation Captura, a multi-agency operation to seize criminals hiding abroad who are wanted in the UK.
Nikki Holland, the NCA Director of Investigations, said: “This arrest is the result of years of investigation involving law enforcement partners in the UK, Europe and Middle East. We are extremely grateful to those partners for their assistance in ensuring Moogan now faces justice and particularly thank the Dubai Police.
“He will be returned the UK to face trial.”