British Fugitive Captured in Spain After 17-Month Manhunt for Algarve Stabbing Murder

International Manhunt Ends in Arrest

A man wanted by Portuguese authorities for stabbing a victim 24 times in the Algarve in April 2022 has been captured in Spain, as announced by the Spanish Guardia Civil police force this Thursday.

Cross-Border Collaboration Leads to Capture

The detained individual, a 34-year-old British national, was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by Portugal. The operation that located him in Alicante, southeastern Spain, resulted from a collaboration between the Guardia Civil, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Portuguese Polícia Judiciária. According to the Guardia Civil, the NCA alerted them to the suspect's possible presence in Spain, noting that he was "being pursued by Portuguese authorities for the crime of murder, with support from British authorities."

Details of the Brutal Crime

The murder occurred in April 2022 in Albufeira, Algarve, inside the apartment shared by the suspect and the victim. The Guardia Civil stated in a press release that the man is accused of killing another British man, aged 22, using a kitchen knife as the weapon, inflicting 24 stab wounds.

Escape and Evasion Tactics

To evade capture, the fugitive received "logistical support from his family and criminal group" and exploited the "large British community" in southern and southeastern Spain to blend in and hinder detection. He was apprehended on September 15, after 17 months on the run, which prompted the deployment of "various police devices." The man will be transferred to Portugal, as per the same release.

Legal Background and Flight

The Briton had already been sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Portuguese court in May 2023 but appealed the decision. While awaiting the appeal outcome, he was released on bail in April 2024 after reaching the maximum period for preventive detention. He then "violated the bail conditions set by the court and fled, triggering a major manhunt involving multiple agencies" until his detention in Spain this month, the NCA added.

Role of International Agencies

"NCA's international liaison officers coordinated the exchange of information and data between police agencies" to locate the fugitive, stated the British agency, highlighting cooperation with the Spanish Guardia Civil and Portuguese Polícia Judiciária.