One of the UK’s most wanted criminals was arrested in the Dutch city of The Hague on Christmas day, according to the UK’s National Crime Agency.
Daniel Burdett, 28, who is suspected of leading an arms smuggling network was detained while eating a Christmas meal in a restaurant in the Hofstad district of the Dutch capital, in an operation coordinated with the police force of Burdett’s native Liverpool.
Burdett, who was on the run for five years was detained on a European Arrest warrant issued by the UK authorities as part of an investigation into the bribing of truck drivers to smuggling weapons and ammunition from the Netherlands into the UK. He is also wanted for smuggling drugs including cocaine, heroin and amphetamine and is facing ten charges of conspiracy to import firearms and conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.
One man has already been jailed for eight years in connection with this investigation and another is currently awaiting trial, the NCA said in a statement.
Burdett will now appear before Dutch magistrates who will consider his extradition to the UK where he will face the charges.
Mark Spoors, NCA Branch Commander, said: “The arrest of one of our long-standing fugitives is a fantastic result.
“Burdett thought he could evade the law by exploiting international borders, but his arrest shows that no matter where you are, we will catch up with you. Other fugitives should pay attention to this and remember how determined UK law enforcement is, he added.”
