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JOHANNESBURG. — A convicted drug trafficker and fraudster on the run from the UK, was arrested in Midrand by police and Interpol, police spokesperson Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said yesterday.
Martin Evans (52), from Swansea in Wales, had been on the run since 2011 when he failed to return to prison after being given a short release of a few days.
He was serving 21 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, and fraudulent trading.
Makgale said investigators from the National Crime Agency told Interpol that he was in South Africa and surveillance was conducted.
He was arrested at a security complex in Midrand on Saturday night.
He will appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday for a procedural extradition hearing.
The announcement included congratulations to the team from national police commissioner, General Riah Phiyega.
“Both the Crime Intelligence and Interpol teams worked tirelessly to honor the request our British counterparts and we applaud them for this,” she said.
Hank Cole, head of international operations for the NCA, said the “exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing with the South African Police Service led to the capture of Evans”. — Sapa
Online Reporter