One of Europe’s most wanted drugs kingpins has been arrested in Scotland.
Convicted drug trafficker János K. Balázs, who was named on Hungary’s top 50 ‘most wanted’ list, was detained in Leven, Fife, after evading the authorities for four years.
Police in Budapest said the 49-year-old was found “hiding” in Scotland and arrested during a roadside check.
Balázs had previously been sentenced to more than five years in prison for drugs offences but did not start his sentence - sparking arrest warrants in Hungary and Europe.
He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this month in connection with the warrants and was remanded.
Balázs appeared again via video link last week and a further hearing on his extradition was set for June.
A statement from Hungarian police said: “On March 31, 2023, the British authorities arrested a man in Scotland who was on the Top 50 list of the most wanted in Hungary, based on information from the Targeting Department of the Budapest Police Headquarters and the National Investigation Bureau of the Emergency Police.
“In 2019, the Punishment Enforcement Group of the Metropolitan Court issued a national arrest warrant against János K. Balázs, and then a European arrest warrant in 2022, because he did not begin serving the legally imposed five-year, six-month prison sentence.
“During the coordinated operation, the police established that the 49-year-old man was hiding in the town of Dunfermline and he was arrested during a roadside check.
“His extradition hearing took place. The man was detained by the British authorities.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A 49-year-old man was arrested in the Leven area in relation to an International Arrest Warrant.
“He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 3 April, 2023 where he was remanded in custody. Officers are liaising with partner agencies.”
READ NEXT:
