Four men linked to Merseyside have been named on a new list of the UK’s 12 most wanted fugitives.
Detectives want to speak with the men, all thought to be in Spain, in connection with major crimes ranging from drugs supply offences to an horrific double stabbing.
One of the UK’s highest ranking crime-fighting officials today warned each of them: “ Spain is not a safe haven ”.
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The National Crime Agency, often dubbed the British FBI, has launched a new appeal for a dozen fugitives thought to be on the run in Spain.
Four of them have links to Merseyside. They are:
Dean Garforth
Garforth is wanted by Cheshire Police on suspicion of being part of a gang that traded in cocaine, cannabis and guns.
Born in Liverpool, the 28-year-old's last known address was South Hill Road in Dingle.
The investigation into the gang he was allegedly linked to was sparked by the hack of the shadowy communications network EncroChat.
Joshua Dillon Hendry
Hendry is also wanted in connection with drugs allegations.
The 30-year-old is sought on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, with Humberside Police seeking him as part of an operation targeting the trafficking of heroin and crack cocaine from Liverpool to Grimsby between 2017 and 2019.
He is also wanted over a separate cocaine conspiracy for which, in 2019, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail in his absence.
His last known address is Lochinvar Street, Walton
John James Jone s
Jones is wanted by Lancashire Police on suspicion of wounding with intent over a blade attack in Ormskirk.
That attack saw two victims stabbed multiple times in April 2018.
The 31-year-old, whose last known address was Ennerdale Drive in Aughton, is thought to have fled the UK, initially for Madrid, and could be in Ibiza.
Mark Francis Roberts
Roberts, 28, is wanted on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and the attempted robbery of a man's £60,000 designer watch.
The victim was attacked on his driveway by two men in September 2016 and was left fighting for his life.
Roberts' blood was identified at the scene and he may have a scar on his arm from cutting himself in that incident.
He is wanted by Merseyside Police and has links to Scotland as well as Spain.
His last known address is Freehold Street, Fairfield.
The most wanted appeal, launched by the NCA in partnership with organisations ranging from the Spanish Interior Ministry to crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers, was launched in the UK and Spain this morning.
Steve Rodhouse the NCA’s Director General of Operations said: “Fugitives usually continue offending while on the run and these men will be known in criminal circles wherever they are.
“The last thing the fugitives’ associates will want is the combined determination and capabilities of the UK and Spanish law enforcement focusing on them.
“Many of these fugitives will be trying to blend in to the large British communities who have made their homes in Spain, and if you are resident, you may know one of them from your town or village.
“Loyalties change over time and we urge anyone with information about these men to help us find them.”
The campaign follows a similar initiative between the NCA, Crimestoppers and the Spanish authorities called Operation Captura.
That led to the arrest and extradition of 86 British suspects believed to have been hiding in Spain - including more than a dozen from Merseyside.
The most recent to be convicted was Dominic McInally, from Formby, who was jailed last year for his role in a drugs gang thought to have made £1m-a-month.
He faced trial after being arrested in a strip club near Marbella after six years on the run.
Launching the latest campaign, Lord Ashcroft, founder of Crimestoppers said: “We know it can be difficult for people to speak up about crime, which is why our charity is here to give you an option.
“We guarantee you’ll stay completely anonymous, just like the millions of people who have trusted our charity with their crime information since we were formed back in the 1980s.
“Please do the right thing by passing on what you know about these fugitives’ whereabouts and help us ensure these criminals are no longer a danger.”
Among the rest of the most wanted is 41-year-old Nana Oppong, who is wanted by Essex Police in connection with the drive-by murder of a grandfather who was shot eight times with a 9mm pistol, heavily tattooed Jack Mayle, 30, and from Croydon on suspicion of supplying MDMA and other drugs and Callum Halpin, 27, who is wanted by Greater Manchester Police in connection with the murder of drug dealer Luke Graham, 31, and the attempted murder of Anton Verigotta.
Two men from Cardiff, Asim Naveed, 29, and Calvin Parris, 32, are wanted by South Wales Police for Class A drugs offences allegedly organised through EncroChat.
Benjamin Macann, 32 and from Norfolk, is also wanted on suspicion of drugs offences linked to EncroChat while Callum Allan, 23 and from South Shields, is wanted over alleged offences including possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin, possession of cannabis, assaulting an emergency worker, affray and dangerous driving.
James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson, 56, is wanted by the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland over the seizure of approximately one tonne of cocaine and 28 million Etizolam ‘street Valium’ tablets.
The cocaine was found in a shipment at the Port of Dover in September 2020 and the tablets were seized following a raid on a suspected pill factory in Kent in June 2020.
Anyone with information on any of the suspects can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or contact the charity online here.
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