AN appeal launched in May this year to hunt down 12 dangerous British fugitives thought to be hiding out in Spain has enjoyed remarkable success.
In just four months, four of Britain’s worst drug dealers, fraudster and violent sex offenders have been tracked down and arrested in Spain.
The swift results mark the culmination of a 20-year-long cross-border police operation known as Operation Captura, which has brought 100 of Britain’s most wanted fugitives to justice, according to charity Crimestoppers.
A list of the eight men remaining on the NCA’s ‘Most Wanted’ list. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
But eight of them still remain on the lam – and could potentially be hiding somewhere in one of Spain’s most popular tourist hotspots, including Marbella, Benidorm, Tenerife or Palma de Mallorca.
The Olive Press is bringing you a round-up of who has been arrested, who remains on the UK’s ‘Most Wanted’ list, and where you should look out for them.
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PHILIP FOSTER – ARRESTED
Philip Foster. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Foster, 51, was once a TV soap actor who played Christian Wright on Channel 4’s Brookside.
He was arrested in Spain’s Orihuela Costa earlier this month over an extensive £13.6 million fraud that ran for more than eight years.
He had been sentenced by a Sheffield court in February 2025 to eight-and-a-half years behind bars for conspiracy to commit fraud.
Foster was alleged to be the ringleader of the operation, orchestrating the fraud from Marbella with the help of a network of associates based in England.
The network is believed to have operated a string of sham modelling agencies and photography studios in cities across the country, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham.
More than 6,000 victims were deceived by the group – mainly young people and mothers – who ended up parting with substantial sums of money under the false promise of securing paid modelling work.
JOHN ROCKS – ARRESTED
John Rocks. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
The Scot, 37, was wanted by Police Scotland over an unspecified number of sexual assaults allegedly committed between August 2012 and October 2022.
He was detained on a central Madrid street in August following a two-year probe to locate him.
Rocks had spent time in Benidorm, where he is said to have worked in bars and clubs.
Officers began looking for him in 2024 and confirmed he was in the Costa Blanca city, but precautions taken by Rocks and his constant changes of address made him difficult to track down.
He was also helped by people who allowed him to stay under the radar.
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SPENCER DILLION LAMB – ARRESTED
Spencer Dillion Lamb. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Lamb, 33, was wanted in Derbyshire over drug offences allegedly committed between May 2020 and May 2021.
He was arrested in Belgium in June and is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the UK.
Lamb had previously been linked to Spain, Crimestoppers has said.
SIMON DUTTON – ARRESTED
Simon Dutton. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Dutton, 49, was arrested in May on the same day the ‘Most Wanted’ list was made public by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
He was wanted by Greater Manchester Police for a recall to prison for cocaine importation, money laundering, false passport offences and breaching a Serious Crime Prevention Order.
Guardia Civil officers swooped on him in La Nucia – north of Benidorm – following an investigation that started last November.
Authorities received a tip-off from the manager of a parcel delivery service in Benidorm, where a suitcase containing 16 kilos of hashish was found, destined for the UK.
The sender was a woman who presented fake papers when processing the shipment.
She was accompanied by two men – one of whom was Dutton.
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DEAN EIGHTEEN – WANTED
Dean Eighteen. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Dean Eighteen, 48, is wanted for fraudulently claiming £7.8 million in VAT.
Under the ruse, Eighteen reclaimed VAT on cars he claimed to be exporting to Asia – except the cars did not exist.
DEREK MCGRAW FERGUSON – WANTED
Derek Ferguson. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Derek McGraw Ferguson, 62, is wanted in connection with the murder of Thomas Cameron, which took place in Glasgow in 2007.
Ferguson is likely to be living under an alias and has featured in previous campaigns.
He remains one of Police Scotland’s Most Wanted fugitives, with age-progressed images of Ferguson available on the NCA’s Most Wanted website.
ALEKSANDR KUKSOV – WANTED
Aleksandr Kuksov. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Russian national Aleksandr Kuksov, 23, is accused of being involved with an organised crime group that laundered millions of pounds in criminal cash between September and October 2022.
Kuksov is described as stocky with mousy brown hair. He was added to the Most Wanted list in January 2026.
LIAM MURRAY – WANTED
Liam Murray. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Liam Michael Murray, 34, is wanted for his involvement in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, as well as possession of criminal cash.
The white male is described as having a medium build and a North-East accent.
FRANCIS DAVID PARKER – WANTED
Francis Parker. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Francis David Parker, 40, is believed to be a prominent member of the Coggins organised crime group (OCG).
He is wanted for directing drug couriers and collecting money on behalf of the OCG.
He is described as stocky with short brown and grey hair.
KEVIN THOMAS PARLE – WANTED
Kevin Parle. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Kevin Thomas Parle is wanted in connection with the murders of Liam Kelly in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in 2005.
The 45-year-old has red hair and has featured in previous campaigns.
He is believed to have links to southern Spain.
MATTHEW PURVES – WANTED
Matthew Purves. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
Matthew Purves, 41, is wanted for his involvement in a conspiracy to supply multiple kilos of cocaine across the UK.
Purves is 6ft tall with cropped auburn hair and is believed to have links to southern Spain, as well as Corby and Peterborough.
CHARLIE SALISBURY – WANTED
Charlie Salisbury. Credit: NCA, Crimestoppers.
And finally, Charlie Salisbury, who is wanted on suspicion of supplying cocaine and laundering the proceeds of crime.
The 34-year-old, who was also a user of EncroChat, has tattoos of a koi carp and a dragon covering his entire right arm, as well as tattoos on his lower right leg.
Anyone with information about one of the Most Wanted fugitives is urged to call Crimestoppers anonymously in the UK 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, with translation available if required.
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