Alex Male, one of the UK’s most wanted fugitives, was arrested in Morocco after evading capture for four years, according to a report from the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) on Friday.
Male faces charges of multiple offenses, including trafficking cocaine and ketamine, attempting to illegally acquire firearms and money laundering.
He was deported back to the UK in a coordinated operation involving the NCA, the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the statement indicates.
The fugitive, who had been on the run since 2020, was initially detained earlier this year by Morocco’s national police DGSN after he entered the country illegally using false documentation.
Male remained in custody in Morocco since his arrest until he was deported to the UK on August 7, accompanied by officers from the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre (JICC).
Originating from Weston-super-Mare, Male was first added to the NCA’s Most Wanted list in January 2022. He had fled detention from SWROCU in June 2020.
David Hucker, NCA International Regional Head of Operations, expressed gratitude to the DGSN for their “tenacious work in locating and arresting Male.”
“Fugitives who think they can go on the run and stay under the radar should never stop looking over their shoulders, as we and our international partners will always be looking for them,” Hucker added.
Det Supt Tina Robinson, Head of SWROCU, also lauded Morocco’s law enforcement efforts, emphasizing that Male’s arrest resulted from strong collaboration with the UK’s international partners.