An east London gangland criminal, wanted for the drive-by shooting death of an Essex grandfather, is believed to be hiding from law enforcement in Spain.
Nana Oppong, 41, is alleged to have shot Robert Powell eight times with a 9mm pistol in June 2020.
Nana Oppong, 41, is alleged to have shot Robert Powell from Essex eight times in June 2020.
NCA
It is alleged that the Oppong and his victim were from rival gangland factions.
Oppong, from Newham in east London is among the 12 Most Wanted fugitives being hunted by the National Crime Agency and local law enforcement in the UK and Spain.
All 12 have connections with Spain and are believed to have fled there, or to the Spanish owned Canary Islands.
The offenders, all men, are wanted for crimes including murder, large scale drugs trafficking and gun-running.
Senior officers from the National Crime Agency and the UK crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, have travelled to the Spanish capital Madrid to launch a multi-national campaign to track down the fugitives.
Spain remains one of the most popular countries for British ex-pats and according to the NCA’s Director General Steve Rodhouse, the two nations continue to have a very strong law enforcement partnership post Brexit.
At the campaign launch, Mr Rodhouse said: “Spain is not a safe haven.
“We have a brilliant relationship with the country’s various law enforcement agencies and work together daily to protect the public.
“With 86 offenders arrested in our last fugitives campaign, criminals know we will never give up and we’re never far behind them.”
Jack Mayle, 30, is alleged to have supplied Class-A drugs in south London.
NCA
The NCA Director General said Spanish law enforcement agencies were crucial to many of the arrests.
“The NCA’s International Crime Bureau and International Liaison Officers work on behalf of UK policing to exchange information and intelligence with partners abroad leading to the tracing and arrests of criminals globally.
“Fugitives usually continue offending while on the run and these men will be known in criminal circles wherever they are.
“The last thing the fugitives’ associates will want is the combined determination and capabilities of the UK and Spanish law enforcement focusing on them.”
Steve Rodhouse urged other criminals to consider contacting his agency and other law enforcement agencies to tip them off regarding the whereabouts of fugitives they might know.
He added: “Loyalties change over time and we urge anyone with information about these men to help us find and return them to face justice in the UK.”
Among those wanted is heavily tattooed Jack Mayle, 30, who allegedly supplied Class-A drug MDMA and other narcotics.
Mayle is suspected of running a drug line in south London and allegedly worked with a dark web drugs supplier.
When he fled, Mayle, who is from Croydon in south London had a tattooed neck, a diamond tattoo under his left eye and ‘Croydon’ inked on the outside of his left forearm.
Callum Halpin, 27, is wanted for murder and and attempted murder by Greater Manchester Police.
NCA
He may have tried to alter his appearance and is known to carry weapons.
The Most Wanted appeal also features Callum Halpin, 27, who is wanted by Greater Manchester Police for the murder of drug dealer Luke Graham, 31, and the attempted murder of Anton Verigotta.
Graham, a dad-of-two, was ambushed and shot dead in a drugs turf war in broad daylight on a street in Ashton-under-Lyne as children played nearby in June 2018. Five men have already been convicted and jailed for their part in the murder.
Also, Glasgow drug trafficker James Stevenson, 56, is wanted by the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland, following the seizure of around one tonne of cocaine and 28 million Etizolam ‘street Valium’ tablets.
The cocaine was found in a shipment at the Port of Dover in September 2020 and the tablets were seized following a raid on a suspected pill factory in Kent in June 2020.
James Stevenson, 56, is wanted by the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland.
NCA
Stevenson, who is stocky and has a scar on the left side of his face, is also wanted in connection with two suspected arson attacks on properties in the Lanarkshire and Forth Valley areas in May 2020.
The National Crime Agency said all 12 Most Wanted had likely integrated into British expat communities across Spain and the Canaries, particularly in tourist hotspots like the Costa del Sol.
The NCA is urging anyone with information about any of the Most Wanted to call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Callers in Spain should call the Freephone Spanish number 900 926 111 which will be answered by staff at CrimeStoppers in the UK.
The 12 on the most wanted list are: Benjamin Macann, Jack Mayle, Callum Halpin, Asim Naveed, Calvin Parris, John James Jones, Callum Michael Allan, Dean Garforth, Joshua Dillon Hendry, Mark Francis Roberts, James Stevenson, Nana Oppong.