Spanish police have arrested one of Britain's most wanted fugitives just hours after the launch of a new campaign to bring to justice 12 men believed to be hiding on the Costas. Simon Dutton, 49, was detained in La Nucia, north of Benidorm, in the early hours of the morning, though authorities only confirmed the arrest later in the night after the National Crime Agency unveiled the latest Operation Captura wanted list in Alicante.
Background of the Fugitive
Dutton, a convicted drug smuggler from Bolton, Greater Manchester, was wanted for a recall to prison. He had previously been arrested in a bar in Greece in December 2015. In September 2016, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for organising large-scale cocaine importations and money laundering. He has the name 'Rachel' tattooed on his left arm.
Arrest Details
The Civil Guard, which made the arrest on the Costa Blanca, released footage showing heavily-armed officers surrounding a whitewashed villa before forcing entry while shouting in English: 'Police, police.' Officers entered the property with sniffer dogs and were pictured counting large sums of cash. A man believed to be Dutton was filmed being escorted to a patrol car during daylight hours.
A Civil Guard spokesman said: 'The Civil Guard in Alicante has arrested one of the fugitives included in the UK-led international search operation against offenders linked to organised crime, coinciding with the presentation of the latest 'Most Wanted' campaign. The arrest has been carried out within the framework of an operation conducted in Benidorm and La Nucia against a network linked to drug trafficking and forgery, in which three other people have been arrested.'
The investigation began in November 2025 following a tip-off from the manager of a Benidorm courier firm, where a suitcase containing 16 kilos of cannabis resin was found, destined for the UK. Initial inquiries led to the identification of a woman who organised the delivery using false documentation. Investigators discovered she went to the establishment with another person and had logistical support from two other men who transported the suitcase. As the investigation advanced, officers identified those involved and confirmed one was a person on the UK Most Wanted list for drug trafficking crimes, for whom an International Arrest Warrant had been issued at the end of last year.
Extradition and Further Charges
Spanish police confirmed that Dutton would now face extradition to the UK, although he is also likely to face charges for crimes allegedly committed locally.
Operation Captura Anniversary
Earlier today, a new appeal was launched to locate and bring to justice a dozen of the UK's most wanted men. The publication of the latest list marked the 20th anniversary of Operation Captura, a multi-agency campaign that has seen 98 fugitives apprehended out of 111 publicised. All men featured in this year's campaign are believed to have links to Spain, including areas such as Tenerife, Marbella, Alicante, and Malaga. Dutton featured on the list alongside Derek McGraw Ferguson, a 62-year-old Scot wanted for the murder of Thomas Cameron in Glasgow in 2007, and heavily tattooed Spencer Dillon Lamb, 33, wanted for supplying and cultivating drugs.
