Crimestoppers have confirmed that the National Police arrested one of their Most Wanted on Thursday night, just 24 hours after they released details of the 12 people they believe are hiding out in Spain and the Canary Islands, wanted by the UK authorities for various crimes.
Joshua Hendry, aged 30 from Liverpool was wanted by Humberside Police accused of drug trafficking, was spotted in San Pedro de Alcántara in Marbella on the Costa Del Sol by an off-duty police officer who recognized him after seeing the images of the campaign launched on Wednesday by the Spanish and British authorities.
Hendry’s mother and brother were convicted as part of the case, but Hendry is also wanted for another crime of conspiracy to traffic cocaine in May 2018, a crime he was sentenced for 10 years in prison for ‘in absentia’ in March 2019, according to the NCA, who also said he would appear in court in Spain to be extradited back to the UK shortly.
At the press conference on Wednesday, the British NCA highlighted the fact that intelligence told them that a large number of the fugitives were hiding in the Costa del Sol area of Malaga. "They feel comfortable mixing with the British community in that area," said Steve Rodhouse, who also warned of the possibility that they continue committing crimes once they settle in Spain, adding “but these days there is nowhere to hide.”
Tom Dowdall from Crimestoppers said that their staff is working with UK and Spanish law enforcement to try and trace the other suspects. He added: "Those men will know now that we're after them. They can live their lives anxiously looking over their shoulders and wondering if today's the day they get caught, or they can do the right thing and hand themselves in."
The authorities request that any information related to the eleven remaining fugitives be channelled through CrimeStoppers, which has an anonymous and free telephone number (900 926 111) which they will answer in English or Spanish.
