A Decade Of Captura

Ten more of the most wanted British fugitives believed to be hiding in Spain’s expat communities have been revealed in a new appeal by independent UK crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Publication of the latest list coincides with the 10th anniversary of Operation Captura –a multi-agency campaign which has seen 76 fugitives apprehended out of 86 publicised.

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The ten fugitives are wanted by law enforcement agencies in connection with crimes including murder, child sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering and serious assault.

The list includes Sarah Pinitzke from York, who has been convicted of laundering one billion pounds; Jamie Acourt (a former suspect in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry) who is wanted on suspicion of conspiracy to supply cannabis; as well as murder accused Shane O’Brien, 28, and suspected fraudster Mark Acklom, 43, from London, who last lived in the Murcia region.  Full details are available on line via www.crimestoppers-uk.org/Captura‎.

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, the Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “As we mark the tenth anniversary of Operation Captura, it is safe to say it has been an extremely effective way of tracking down some of the most wanted individuals who are deliberately running from justice.”

Steve Reynolds, Head of International Operations for the NCA, said: “Seventy-six fugitives on the Captura list have been caught to date, along with many more fugitives linked to other operations. The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing we have with the Spanish authorities has been vital to these arrests. “

Crimestoppers and the NCA liaise closely with the British Embassy in Madrid and with both British and Spanish law enforcement agencies.  Simon Manley, British Ambassador to Spain, said: “Captura is one of the best examples of the fantastic collaboration between Spanish and British law enforcement.  Our objective is for this collaboration to continue and strengthen in the coming years.  I would like to congratulate all those that have worked over the last 10 years to bring fugitives to justice.”

Information received by Crimestoppers will help to locate the fugitives on the Operation Captura list. For people in Spain wishing to pass on information anonymously there is a dedicated freephone Spanish telephone number – 900 555 111 – which is directed to the Crimestopers’ call centre in the UK. A translation service is available on request.