One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives in Amsterdam has been arrested, after a campaign by crime-fighting reporting line, Crimestoppers.
Mark McKenna, 41, was arrested at the Hotel Melia Fenix in Madrid by Spanish National Police, and was held in the Spanish capital pending extradition hearings.
McKenna, from Liverpool, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2005 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, but absconded from prison in June 2008. His arrest took place at around 10.15am last Wednesday 28 December.
The 41-year-old becomes the fifth individual to be located since the charity’s Operation Return campaign launched in March 2010 with The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Meld Misdaad Anoniem/’M’ (Dutch Crimestoppers) and Netherlands law enforcement. He is the first to be located from a second batch of six individuals being sought, which were released to the public in June 2011.
The campaign aims to identify fugitives wanted for serious crimes committed in the UK, but who are now thought to be in and around the city of Amsterdam.
Deputy Chief Executive for Crimestoppers, Dave Cording, said: “This is great news to begin a new year and is testament to the support the public continue to give us and the great work that the various law enforcement agencies are doing to bring fugitives to justice.
“This is yet another example of an individual who had nowhere to hide and I would urge those still on the run to hand themselves in, because they will eventually be caught.”
The remaining seven individuals wanted as part of the campaign includes some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals wanted for suspected crimes relating to drugs smuggling, the illegal sale of firearms, robbery and rape.
To see the remaining individuals wanted as part of the campaign – visit the Most Wanted pages – and if you wish to pass on information anonymously you can call 0800 111 555.
