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ONE of the UK’s Most Wanted criminals has been arrested trying to enter Morocco from Spain. Nana Oppong, 42, was snared by Moroccan cops after a warning went out on Interpol.

Oppong had been wanted by Essex police over the drive-by shooting of 50-year-old grandfather Robert Powell in 2020.

He was arrested using false documents by officers from the DGSN –Morocco’s General Directorate for National Security.

Most Wanted snared trying to cross the Straits

By Anthony Piovesan

Oppong, who had been living in Spain for at least a year, remains in custody as extradition proceedings are underway. He was one of 13 criminals sought in a Crimestoppers Most Wanted appeal last year and would have been included on another recent appeal a fortnight ago.

The final seven, still believed to be hiding in Spain, include heavily-tattooed and often armed Jack Mayle, 31, wanted on suspicion of drugs smuggling. Mayle, from London, had a tattooed neck, a diamond tattoo under his left eye and 'Croydon' inked on his left forearm.

Others wanted for cocaine smuggling include Welshmen, Asim Naveed, 31, who is 6ft 2in tall, and Calvin Parris, 33, who has gold teeth.

John James Jones, 32, of Lancashire, is wanted for wounding with intent. He stayed at a hotel in Madrid the night after the stabbings, but left in a hurry the next morning.

Callum Michael Allan, 24, of South Shields, is wanted for 12 alleged offences, while Mark Francis Roberts, 29, of Liverpool, is wanted for alleged grievous bodily harm. Finally Alex Male, 30, of Westonsuper-Mare, is alleged to be a regional distributor of drugs across the south west of England. Email newsdesk@theolivepress.es if you have seen any of them.

A UK hit squad with ‘military grade weapons’ have been arrested for the attempted hit on a trio of Irishmen. The ‘extremely violent’ gang, believed to be from north London, had been sent to Marbella to tackle the Irishmen who are linked to Dublin crime boss Mr Flashy.

In incredible circumstances, none of the three were killed with only one man, from Finglas, near Dublin, hospitalised with a bullet in his side.

Spanish police have accused the men of attempted murder at the popular Turtle Lake outside Marbella on September 20 last year. In the so-called ‘settling of scores’, linked to a new drug war in Dublin, the only victim made his own way to the Costa del Sol Hospital, where he refused to cooperate with police. In alarming dawn raids, cops seized a haul of weapons - including pistols, submachine guns and an axe - in Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola and Coin.

Machetes

Officers also found bulletproof vests, balaclavas, machetes, tasers and cable ties, together with GPS trackers and a mobile signal blocker. The shooting happened at the picturesque Lago de los Tortugas above Aloha golf course, a popular day trip destination for schools in the area. The attack happened just eight days after the arrest of alleged senior Kinahan cartel member Johnny Morrissey, who owned high-profile Nero Vodka.

It was initially believed to be linked to the two decade feud between the Kinahan and Hutch Irish crime gangs, who were both based on the Costa del Sol.

A notice for striking-off of Nero Drinks has been lodged by the UK’s Companies House as their annual accounts are two months overdue. The striking-off action is not thought to be linked to current police investigations in the US or Spain.

Fuengirola Marbella Plaza de las Orquídeas, Calle Orquídea, Local 5, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella, 29660, Spain +34 952 906 581 marbella@currenciesdirect.com

Benalmadena Avenida Antonio Machado, Edificio Diana I Local 13, Benalmádena Costa, Málaga, 29630, Spain +34 952 90 65 81 benalmadena@currenciesdirect.com