Spain and the UK are working together to track down 12 of Britain’s most wanted fugitives who are believed to have links to expat hotspots including Alicante, Malaga and Marbella.

The joint operation was announced by senior officials from Spain’s Interior Ministry, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the charity Crimestoppers, who urged the public to come forward with information if they spot any of the suspects.

Among those speaking during the announcement were Javier Marin, director of Spain’s Intelligence Centre against Terrorism and Organised Crime (CITCO), British embassy minister counsellor Sarah Cowley, NCA operational chief Rob Jones and Crimestoppers director Mark Hallas.

The campaign forms part of the long-running ‘Most Wanted’ collaboration between Spain and the UK, which has operated for more than 20 years.

Authorities say 98 of the 111 fugitives featured in previous campaigns have already been arrested, with 47 caught in Spain.

‘Spain is one of the preferred destinations for British citizens, especially provinces like Alicante,’ Marin said, adding that the operation is built on the principle that ‘justice has no expiry date’ and that ‘impunity has no borders’.

Cowley described the police cooperation between the two countries as ‘fundamental’, while NCA chief Rob Jones warned fugitives directly that Spain ‘is not a safe haven’.

‘If you run, we will continue searching for you and bring you back to face justice,’ he said.

The list includes suspects wanted for murder, drug trafficking, money laundering and sexual offences.

Among them is 62-year-old Derek McGraw Ferguson, who is linked to a homicide in Glasgow in 2007.

Kevin Thomas Parle, 45, is wanted in connection with two murders carried out in 2004 and 2005 and is believed to have links to southern Spain.

Another fugitive, Simon Dutton, 49, has been accused of organising major cocaine importation operations and laundering criminal proceeds. One intercepted shipment linked to the investigation was reportedly valued at £1.5million.

Authorities have also highlighted Spenser Dillon Lamb, 33, who is wanted over alleged cocaine and cannabis supply offences and possession of criminal cash. He is described as having extensive tattoos across his head, neck, arms and abdomen.

Meanwhile, Francis David Parker, 40, is believed to be linked to organised crime networks involved in drug courier operations and money collection.

Russian national Alexander Kuksov, 23, also appears on the list. British investigators accuse him of involvement in a criminal organisation that allegedly laundered millions of pounds in 2022.

Crimestoppers said anyone with information can contact either British or Spanish police forces, or submit anonymous tips through its website.

THE WANTED FUGITIVES

Simon Dutton

• Age: 49
• Wanted by: Greater Manchester Police
  • Crimes: Drug trafficking, money laundering and allegedly using a false passport
• Accused of: Organising cocaine imports from Spain to the UK between 2008 and 2010. One police interception allegedly uncovered 10.5kg of cocaine worth £1.5 million.
• Links to Spain: Believed to have connections in Spain

Dean Eighteen

• Age: 48
• Wanted by: HMRC
• Crimes: Money laundering and VAT fraud
• Accused of: Submitting fake VAT repayment claims worth £7.8 million through two companies by claiming to export cars to Asia that allegedly did not exist.
• Links to Spain: Believed to have links in Spain

Derek McGraw Ferguson

• Age: 62
• Wanted by: Police Scotland
• Crimes: Murder
• Accused of: The murder of Thomas Cameron outside a pub in Glasgow in June 2007.
• Links to Spain: Believed to have links in Spain

Philip Barry Foster

• Age: 50
• Wanted by: Trading Standards
• Crimes: Fraud and money laundering
• Accused of: Scamming aspiring models out of large sums of money for low-quality photographs through a fake modelling scheme. Wanted to begin an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
• Links to Spain: Marbella

John Rocks

• Age: 37
• Wanted by: Police Scotland
• Crimes: Sexual offences
• Accused of: Sexual offences allegedly committed between 2012 and 2022.
• Links to Spain: Benidorm

Kevin Thomas Parle

• Age: 45
• Wanted by: Merseyside Police
• Crimes: Murder
• Accused of: The 2004 murder of Liam Kelly in Liverpool.
• Links to Spain: Malaga and the Costa Blanca

Alexander Kuksov

• Age: 23
• Wanted by: National Crime Agency (NCA)
• Crimes: Money laundering
• Accused of: Being part of an organised crime network involved in moving millions of pounds of criminal cash in the UK.
• Links to Spain: Tenerife

Spencer Dillon Lamb

• Age: 33
• Wanted by: Derbyshire Constabulary
• Crimes: Drug offences
• Accused of: Supplying and manufacturing drugs between 2020 and 2021.
• Links to Spain: Believed to have links in Spain

Matthew Purves

• Age: 41
• Wanted by: Northamptonshire Police
• Crimes: Drug trafficking
• Accused of: Conspiring to supply multiple kilos of cocaine across the UK.
• Links to Spain: Southern Spain

Liam Michael Murray

• Age: 34
• Wanted by: Durham Constabulary
• Crimes: Drug trafficking and money laundering
• Accused of: Involvement in supplying cocaine and cannabis, as well as handling criminal cash.
• Links to Spain: Alicante

Francis David Parker

• Age: 40
• Wanted by: North West Regional Organised Crime Unit
• Crimes: Drug trafficking
• Accused of: Working for the Coggins organised crime group by allegedly directing cocaine and heroin couriers and collecting criminal proceeds.
• Links to Spain: Southern Spain

Charlie Salisbury

• Age: 34
• Wanted by: South East Regional Organised Crime Unit
• Crimes: Drug trafficking and money laundering
• Accused of: Taking part in two sophisticated cocaine supply conspiracies and laundering the profits.
• Links to Spain: Malaga, Marbella and wider Andalucia