POLICE from Britain and Spain begin a campaign today to round up fugitives hiding on the Costa del Sol, amid concerns that Spain is becoming a main hub for British crime.

UK authorities hope that Operación Captura will help to disrupt criminal networks that they fear are becoming entrenched in the area around Málaga, on the southern coast of Spain. The Serious Organised Crime Agency has identified the area as an important base for British criminals directing international drug-trafficking networks.

Those sought by UK police in Spain include escaped prisoners, murder suspects, drug traffickers, fraudsters, counterfeiters and robbery suspects. Any information deemed useful will be passed on to Spanish police, who will execute the arrest warrants and send the suspects back to Britain, embassy officials said.

A hotline has been set up in Spain for British expatriates to call with anonymous tips on the whereabouts of ten people listed on a new “Crimestoppers Costas” website.

“We’re talking about drug-dealing, criminal gangs, murder, major bank robberies — very large-scale, serious crime,” Crimestoppers said. “It’s about major British criminals who are hiding on the Costa del Sol. In some cases, they are continuing to run their criminal operations in the UK from Spain. That’s the information we’re getting from the police in the UK.”

Underworld figures from Britain have long sought refuge in the 350,000-strong British community living in the area around Málaga, prompting tabloids to dub it the Costa del Crime. In contrast to the old generation of criminals, who came to “retire” in Spain and tried to stay out of trouble, new entrants are using the area as a base for criminal operations in Britain.

“This project started because of the growing level of criminality coming from British criminals, who are living and hiding in Spain, primarily on the Costa del Sol,” Dave Cording, Crimestoppers’ director of operations, said. “We particularly want to promote this campaign to the law-abiding British expatriate, who may unknowingly be living next door to a wanted criminal.”

The figure of a British fugitive living it up on the Costa del Sol has become a staple of British tabloids since those believed to be involved in the £6 million Security Express robbery in 1983 moved there. Ronnie Knight, the former husband of Barbara Windsor, the EastEnders star, spent a decade on the run on the Costa before returning to the UK, where he spent seven years in prison. Other notorious criminals who fled to Spain include Kenneth Noye, who laundered some of the proceeds from the 1983 Brinks Mat gold bullion robbery and killed a man in a road-rage incident on the M25 in 1996. He was extradited from Spain and received a life sentence in Britain.

Spain became a popular destination for Britons on the run after the collapse of the extradition treaty between the two countries in 1978. Today they are not safe from arrest. The UK has had an extradition treaty with Spain since 1985, when the country joined the European Union. In January 2004 European arrest warrants also came into effect, making it far easier to bring British criminals back into the British criminal justice system. At least six suspected big British criminals have been arrested close to Málaga after co-operation between the two law-enforcement agencies in recent times.

Profiles of the most wanted will be posted on the Crimestoppers website, crimestoppers-org.uk. Those who recognise them in Spain are encouraged to call 900 555 111; calls will be answered by British operators.

Some of the figures listed are wanted for extremely serious crimes. Police are offering a reward of up to £30,000 for information leading to the arrest and imprisonment of Francis Hurley, a convicted murderer and armed robber who escaped during a prison transfer in 1994. Hurley was convicted of shooting a policeman to death during a bank robbery in Hemmel Hempstead.

Others being sought include Christopher Guest More, wanted in connection with the kidnap and murder of a man in 2003, and Mark Gottfried, wanted on drug-trafficking charges and for impersonating a Customs officer. “Despite law enforcement efforts, these criminals are living a charmed life in Spain, avoiding arrest, and some are still committing serious crimes,” Mr Cording said.

Michael McDonagh, acting Chief Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police, said that it fully supported the project and “this valuable partnership”.

ESCAPING JUSTICE

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