BRITAIN’S “most wanted man,” known for his full row of gold teeth, has been apprehended by police in Portugal after spending four years on the run.
Earlier this month, Portuguese cops apprehended Calvin Parris near Boliqueime in Algarve who was later extradited to Wales by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to stand trial.
The 34-year-old is accused of conspiring to supply cocaine and was named one of the most wanted fugitives by the NCA after he went on the run in November 2020.
Parris attended Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday and will remain in custody until his next appearance at Cardiff Crown Court in November.
The fugitive allegedly purchased the drugs to distribute in Cardiff using an Encro phone.
He is also accused of being a customer of Naveed’s OCG – a highly organised crime group that trafficked 46 kilos of cocaine into Wales between February and June 2020 – worth almost £8million.
The NCA thanked the Portuguese authorities for their efforts in detaining Parris.
Neil Keeping, NCA International Regional Manager, said: “The arrest of Calvin Parris highlights our commitment to tracing those accused of serious criminality and returning them to the UK to face charges.
“It should also serve as a warning to other fugitives on the run – no matter how you try and evade law enforcement, we will always catch up with you.”
Detective Sergeant Ceri Young of South Wales Police added: “We are pleased to report that Parris has been arrested in Portugal following a joint investigation with the NCA and other European law enforcement partners.
“He is accused of being the final member of an organised crime group involved in a complex conspiracy to traffic class A controlled drugs into South Wales utilising encrypted communications devices operating on the ‘EncroChat’ platform.
“Organised crime and drug trafficking has a significant detrimental impact on communities and bringing offenders involved in this level of criminality to justice is a priority for South Wales Police.”
It comes after a criminal who was one of Britain’s “most wanted men” after going on the run before his capture admitted to a £4.5million drug plot.
Alex Male, 32, was arrested in June 2020 as part of an investigation into class A drugs supply across the southwest of the UK.
His arrest was part of Operation Venetic, the UK response to the takedown of Encrochat, an encrypted messaging service that was used by criminals worldwide.
He pleaded guilty at Exeter Crown Court to conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply ketamine and money laundering.
Male pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to acquire a firearm and ammunition – these offences will lay on file.
The other four members of Male’s gang were jailed for a total of 56 years in March.
The group supplied more than 130 kilos of cocaine with worth £4.5million across the South West, including in Portsmouth, Trowbridge, Bristol and Bridgwater.
Male was released on bail following his arrest in 2020 but breached his conditions and fled abroad.
He was added to the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) “most wanted” list in January 2022.
Earlier this year Male was arrested in Morocco, detained, and extradited back to the UK last month.
He had previously been arrested in Turkey after trying to enter the country from Portugal.
