Simon Dutton, 49, who sports the name ‘Rachel’ tattooed on his left arm, received a 14-year jail term in September 2016 for orchestrating massive cocaine imports and money laundering operations
Spanish police have nabbed one of Britain’s most wanted fugitives – just hours after launching a fresh campaign targeting 12 men believed to be lurking on the Costas. Simon Dutton, 49, was seized in La Nucia just north of Benidorm.
The capture is understood to have taken place in the early hours of this morning, though officers only made it public late tonight following the National Crime Agency’s unveiling of the latest Operation Captura wanted list in Alicante. Convicted drug trafficker Dutton, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, who was nabbed in a Greek bar back in December 2015, was sought for a prison recall.
The fugitive, who sports the name ‘Rachel’ tattooed on his left arm, received a 14-year jail term in September 2016 for orchestrating massive cocaine imports and money laundering operations.
The Civil Guard, responsible for today’s Costa Blanca capture, issued footage showing scores of heavily-armed officers encircling a whitewashed villa before smashing their way in while shouting in English: ‘Police, police.’ They stormed the property with sniffer dogs and were photographed tallying up thick bundles of banknotes.
A man thought to be Dutton was filmed being led to a patrol vehicle during daylight.
A Civil Guard spokesperson, who didn’t formally identify Dutton though reliable sources confirmed he was the individual detained, said tonight: “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 unveiling of the latest ‘Most Wanted’ campaign.
“The arrest was executed as part of an operation in Benidorm and La Nucia against a network associated with drug trafficking and forgery, resulting in three other individuals being apprehended.
“The investigation kicked off in November 2025 after a tip-off from the manager of a Benidorm courier firm where a suitcase containing 16 kilos of cannabis resin was discovered, destined for the UK.
“Initial probes led to the identification of a woman who arranged the delivery using counterfeit documentation.
“Investigators found she visited the establishment with another individual and had logistical backing from two other men who transported the suitcase.
“As the investigation progressed, officers managed to identify those involved and confirm one was a person on the UK Most Wanted list for crimes related to drug trafficking, for whom an International Arrest Warrant had been issued at the end of last year.”
Spanish police confirmed last night that Dutton would now face extradition to the UK, although he is likely to also face charges for alleged local offences.
Earlier today, a fresh appeal was launched to locate and bring to justice a dozen of the UK’s most wanted men.
The release of the latest list of fugitives marked the 20th anniversary of Operation Captura – a multi-agency initiative which has resulted in 98 fugitives being captured out of 111 publicised.
All the men spotlighted in this year’s campaign are thought to have connections to Spain, including regions like Tenerife, Marbella, Alicante, and Malaga.
Dutton is among those featured, alongside individuals such as Derek McGraw Ferguson, a 62 year old Scot sought in relation to the murder of Thomas Cameron in Glasgow in 2007, and heavily inked Spencer Dillon Lamb, 33, who is wanted for drug supply and cultivation.