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The other four members of Male’s gang gain been jailed for a whole of 56 years in March
- Jon Rogers, News reporter
THE UK’s “most wanted man” who went on the run before being captured in Morocco has admitted a £4.5million drug plot.
Alex Male, 32, used to be arrested in June 2020 as section of a South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) investigation into class A drugs present all over the region.
His arrest used to be section of Operation Venetic, the UK response to the takedown of Encrochat, an encrypted messaging provider that used to be old-fashioned by criminals worldwide.
He pleaded responsible this day at Exeter Crown Courtroom to conspiracy to present cocaine, conspiracy to present ketamine and money laundering.
He pleaded no longer responsible to conspiracy to have an effect on a firearm and ammunition – these offences will lay on file.
The other four members of Male’s gang gain been jailed for a whole of 56 years in March.
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The crew supplied better than 130 kilos of cocaine with price £4.5million all over the South West, including in Portsmouth, Trowbridge, Bristol and Bridgwater.
Male used to be released on bail following his arrest in 2020 nevertheless breached his conditions and fled in a foreign country.
He used to be added to the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) “most wanted” listing in January 2022.
Earlier this year Male used to be arrested in Morocco, detained, and extradited help to the UK final month.
He had previously been arrested in Turkey after trying to enter the country from Portugal.
DCI Adam Smith from the SWROCU mentioned: “Male has again and again tried to manual certain of facing justice for the serious offences he dedicated, nevertheless this day he finally pleaded responsible to his role in organising the present of expansive portions of sophistication A and B drugs and laundering the cash they made.
“His determination to no longer obtain caught and retain his freedom used to be outweighed by the determination of our investigation team and our partners in the NCA, CPS and in a foreign country to find him and obtain him help.
“Alex Male led a crew who gain been funding luxurious existence by exploiting the drug spend of inclined of us.
“Having already spent several months in prison in Morocco, he knows he can expect a significant jail term when he is sentenced next month.”
David Hucker, NCA International Regional Head of Operations, said: “Today’s outcome is further proof that no matter how fugitives try to evade law enforcement, we will always catch up with them and put them before the courts.
“Alex Male thought he would possibly per chance well well journey below the radar by fleeing in a foreign country, on the other hand the tenacious work of NCA and SWROCU officers, alongside our Moroccan Common Directorate National Security partners, ended in his arrest in Morocco earlier this year.
“This should serve as a stark warning to fugitives on the run – we will always be looking for them, and we won’t stop until they face justice.”
Male is due to be sentenced at Exeter Crown Court on October 18.
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Anyone with information about drug dealing within their communities can contact their local force online or via 101.
You can also contact Crimestoppers, completely anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their website.