David Ungi was caught and arrested by police in Malaga after seven years on the run.
The National Crime Agency and police forces around Europe were hunting down Ungi, 30, for his suspected role in the murder of 18-year-old Vinny Waddington in Liverpool in 2015. The teenager was hit with a single shotgun blast on Banks Road, Garston, as he rode pillion on a scrambler bike.
On Thursday, May 6, Ungi was caught as he entered a gym at a shopping centre in Coin, Malaga.
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Ungi is also wanted in connection with the supply of heroin in the Liverpool area. Extradition proceedings are underway after he appeared at court in Malaga yesterday and was remanded in custody. Ungi fled the UK less than 24 hours after Vinny Waddington was killed.
Detectives learned the 12-gauge shotgun had been fired from the passenger window of an Audi A3 car containing three men, which had rammed the motorbike seconds earlier. Two of the car's occupants, owner Luke Kendrick and Ryan Bate, are already serving life sentences after being convicted of Vinny's murder after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in 2016.
The third suspect wanted by Merseyside Police over Vinny's murder was Ungi, formerly of Melbreck Road in Allerton.
Steve Reynolds, National Crime Agency regional manager in Spain, said: "Ungi is a very dangerous person and his arrest is good news for communities both in Liverpool and Spain. These arrests would not have been possible without close cooperation between police forces in the UK and our law enforcement colleagues in Spain and Portugal.
"There are still a number of fugitives on our most wanted list, and they should know we will never give up and we’re never far behind them.”
Detective Chief Inspector Cath Cummings said: "Merseyside Police remains relentless in its pursuit of criminals and will leave no stone unturned. We will continue to work closely with other law enforcement agencies, both in the UK, and overseas to trace those wanted for carrying out the most serious offences and bring them to justice.”
Anyone with information about a fugitive on the NCA’s most wanted list is urged to call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Alternatively, members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form via their website.
