Simon Dutton Arrested in Spain After UK Wanted List Launch

Spanish police arrested Simon Dutton, a 49-year-old British fugitive wanted for drug trafficking and money laundering, in La Nucia near Benidorm on Thursday, hours after UK authorities launched a new list of 12 most-wanted suspects believed to be hiding in Spain.

The National Crime Agency (NCA), alongside Spanish police and Crimestoppers, unveiled the list in Alicante to mark the 20th anniversary of Operation Captura, a campaign that has led to the capture of 98 out of 111 publicized fugitives since 2004. Dutton, from Bolton, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2016 for organizing large-scale cocaine imports from Spain to the UK, including one seizure of 10.5 kilograms valued at 1.5 million pounds. Authorities believe he continued criminal activity while on the run.

The arrest stemmed from a Guardia Civil investigation that began in November 2025 after a tip from a Benidorm courier firm manager about a suitcase containing 16 kilograms of cannabis resin destined for the UK. Officers identified a woman using false documents to arrange the shipment, supported by two men and another accomplice. The probe uncovered a network involved in drug trafficking and document forgery....