A man wanted by Cheshire Constabulary in connection with serious and organised crime becomes part of UK most wanted campaign.
Dean Garforth, from Liverpool, is amongst 11 other men who are believed to be hiding in Spain.
The 29-year-old, of South Hill Road in Dingle, is allegedly involved in a well-established organised crime group trading firearms and ammunition.
He is also wanted in connection with supplying significant quantities of cocaine and cannabis.
The offences are believed to have been facilitated in and around the North West of England using the now defunct encrypted communications platform EncroChat.
Garforth is described as 5’6” tall, white, of a slim build with brown hair.
The campaign is being run by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in conjunction with independent charity Crimestoppers, Spanish law enforcement and UK police forces.
It focuses on tracing individuals who are believed to be in Spain – one of the most popular countries for British ex-pats.
Detective Inspector Ian Murray, from Cheshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “If an individual decides to leave the UK when they are wanted in connection with a crime they shouldn’t then think that they are beyond our reach.
“Instead they come to the attention of law enforcement overseas and by working alongside them and the NCA it enables us to locate and capture the individual who is brought back to the UK.
“I’d encourage anyone who knows Garforth’s whereabouts or has any information that could assist in our manhunt to contact Crimestoppers anonymously.”
Steve Rodhouse the NCA’s Director General of Operations, said: “Spain is not a safe haven.
“We have a brilliant relationship with the country’s various law enforcement agencies and work together daily to protect the public.
“With 86 offenders arrested in our last fugitive campaign, criminals know we will never give up and we’re never far behind them.
“Our Spanish partners were crucial to many of those arrests, and in 2021 arrested and returned more than 25 wanted UK fugitives.
“The NCA’s International Crime Bureau and International Liaison Officers work on behalf of UK policing to exchange information and intelligence with partners abroad leading to the tracing and arrests of criminals globally.
“Fugitives usually continue offending while on the run and these men will be known in criminal circles wherever they are.
“The last thing the fugitives’ associates will want is the combined determination and capabilities of the UK and Spanish law enforcement focusing on them.
“Many of these fugitives will be trying to blend in to the large British communities who have made their homes in Spain, and if you are resident, you may know one of them from your town or village.
“Loyalties change over time and we urge anyone with information about these men to help us find them.”
Anyone with information about Dean Garforth is urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Callers in Spain should call the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111, which will be answered by CrimeStoppers in the UK (using translation if required).
Alternatively members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form at the UK charity’s website
We encourage anyone living or visiting Spain to visit the NCA and Crimestoppers websites and look at the Most Wanted subjects.
