Two killers and a TV actor, among the most wanted British criminals in Spain

For a fugitive from justice, there is no better way to hide than in plain sight, surrounded by people who speak the same language and have similar customs. This is what happens with British fugitives, who usually hide in southern Europe, preferably in Spain, to escape the authorities of their country. This is the reason why the Ministry of the Interior, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), and the organization Crimestoppers have presented the twentieth edition of Operation Capture in Alicante, with which they pursue the location of the 12 most wanted criminals in the United Kingdom. Through this means, since 2006, images and physical data of 111 criminals have been issued, of whom 98 have already been captured, 47 of them in Spain and seven more in peninsular territory, in Gibraltar (2) and Portugal (5).

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Two murderers, a sexual offender, six criminals linked to drug trafficking, and three more related to fraud and money laundering crimes, including a former television actor, are the protagonists of the latest campaign. Almost all have been detected with links to Málaga, the Alicante Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands, according to Rick Jones, deputy director of the NCA, who participated in a media presentation in Alicante. Their names, faces, and physical features are already available to anyone on the Crimestoppers website, an independent organization that ensures the confidentiality of citizens who detect any of these criminals in their environment. “People want to do the right thing, but they are afraid to contact the police,” says Mark Hallas, executive director of this project. “Here we do not ask for names or personal details,” he continues, “if any Spaniard or expat [Britons living abroad] knows any of them, let us know.” “Do not approach them, do not let them know they have been discovered,” adds Jones.

Another of the speakers, Francisco Javier Marín, director of the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO), an agency under the Ministry of the Interior, states that organized crime, in all its variants, “is increasingly versatile, fast, interconnected, and violent.” Circumstances that dig escape tunnels to anywhere on the planet. “Spain is one of the preferred destinations for the British and, therefore, also for criminals trying to hide,” he explains, “therefore, we need to maintain constant surveillance” so that fugitives are convinced that “Spain is not a safe haven.” Marín points out that “with their captures,” justice is done. “The victims’ wounds are closed” and “future crimes are prevented, as many continue offending immersed in new criminal networks,” he affirms.

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He agrees with him Rob Jones, operations director of the NCA, for whom arrests “are imperative.” For this, both Marín and Jones highlight the good harmony between the police teams of both countries, which has achieved that “Spain is not a safe haven for criminals.” With the support of a “practical and proven tool,” that of citizen intervention. “This life leaves a trace,” emphasizes the senior NCA official, “raises suspicions among neighbors,” who usually “do not want these people in their communities.” “If you recognize the face or the name sounds familiar, you can help,” Jones appeals to his fellow citizens. They are a multitude, as the minister counselor of the British Embassy in Madrid, Sarah Cowley, has recalled: “19 million Britons traveled to Spain last year and about 400,000 live here.”

Outside the most wanted list, Interior sources point out that since 2019, the State Security Forces and Corps have arrested 254 British fugitives with international search and capture orders in Spain. Málaga, with 86 arrests, and Alicante, with 54, top the list of provinces with the highest number of arrests. But right now, the greatest efforts are concentrated on these 12 men, 11 British and one Russian.

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Kevin Thomas Parle

Alleged murderer of 16-year-old Liam Kelley in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in 2005, both in Liverpool. 45 years old. Redhead. He is very tall, nearly 2 meters, and stocky. He has already been included in previous campaigns. He is linked to connections in southern Spain.

Derek McGraw Ferguson

Linked to the murder of Thomas Cameron in 2007 near Glasgow. Light eyes, brown or gray hair, bald. About 1.60 meters tall.

Philip Barry Foster

Sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for fraud and money laundering. Actor in television series. He convinced his victims that he could make them famous with low-quality photographs for which he charged large sums of money. About 50 years old. Dark hair. Linked to Marbella.

Charlie Salisbury

Accused of supplying cocaine and laundering money from its sale. 1.70 meters tall. Brown, short hair. He has a koi carp and a dragon tattooed on his right arm. His right calf is also tattooed. Possibly linked to Málaga.

Francis David Parker

Considered part of the organized gang Coggins, specialized in sending cocaine and heroin to various locations, for which he also acted as a collector. Brown or gray hair and robust build.

John Rocks

Scottish Police are looking for him for sexual assaults. In the photo, he appears shaved and with a red goatee. Possibly linked to Benidorm.

Spencer Dillon Lamb

Accused of drug cultivation and supply. 33 years old, 1.90 meters tall. He has several tattoos on his head, neck, arms, and abdomen. He also has a scar under his left eye.

Matthew Purves

Involved in supplying cocaine to different points in the United Kingdom. 1.83 meters tall, slim, and light brown hair. With contacts in southern Spain. Well known in several countries, he may have links to Tenerife.

Alexsandr Kuksov

Involved in an organized group that laundered millions of pounds from crime in 2022. 23 years old, Russian nationality. Robust and brown hair.

Dean Eighteen

Accused of fraudulently claiming 7.8 million pounds of VAT (British VAT) for two companies of which he was the sole administrator. 48 years old, brown hair. Believed to have left the United Kingdom in 2019 and is wanted throughout Spain.

Simon Dutton

He organized cocaine exports from the United Kingdom to Spain. A police operation seized 10.5 kilos of this drug from his businesses. He is also accused of forging his passport. He is very tall, about 1.90 meters, medium build, and dark hair. He has been detected in several locations in Spain.

Liam Michael Murray

Accused of drug trafficking and money laundering. 34 years old, medium build, dark hair. Possibly linked to Alicante.