An alleged drugs boss who spent around eight years on the run is back in the UK after being extradited from Dubai.
Michael Paul Moogan, 36, from Croxteth, was flown back to the UK yesterday (July 4), more than a year since his arrest in April 2021. Moogan featured in a most wanted fugitives campaign and was finally collared thanks to a joint operation between the National Crime Agency (NCA), Dubai Police and Interpol in Abu Dhabi.
Moogan appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this morning (5 July) and was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 9. He is charged with conspiring to traffic cocaine between March 31, 2013, and October 29, 2013. He has not entered any pleas to the charges as yet.
READ MORE: Man shot while sitting at memorial to murdered friend
Moogan disappeared after a raid on a café in Rotterdam, Holland, in October 2013 which was suspected of being a front for meetings between drug traffickers and international cartels. Working with the Dutch National Crime Squad, the NCA became aware of information allegedly linking Moogan and two other British men to the Café de Ketel – a business closed to the public which could only be entered via a security system.
Investigators believe the café was the hub for a conspiracy to bring hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the UK every week. NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Miles Bonfield said: “We are extremely grateful to partners for their assistance in ensuring the suspect was traced and returned to the UK.
“I particularly want to thank the Dubai Police and detectives from the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai who used all the techniques at their disposal to assist us.”
Anyone with information about a fugitive is urged to call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
READ NEXT:
Owner's heartache as car smashes up restaurant months after £130k refurb
Man drove into oncoming traffic on Edge Lane and rammed police van
Dad fears he could be out of family home until 2023 after builders' chaos
Man who killed parents in knife frenzy shouts in court as he's led away
Mum pregnant after falling in love with Scouse window cleaner's cheeky remark
