WIREDGOV

Fugitive Ahmed Omer, who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced in his absence to ten years in prison, has been arrested after a year on the run.

The 46-year-old Cypriot featured on the Operation Return most wanted fugitives campaign run by the NCA and Crimestoppers after he failed to answer bail and fled to the Netherlands in November 2015 before his trial concluded.

Omer was apprehended last Friday at an address in Stockhill, Nottingham, following an intelligence-led operation involving the NCA, the East Midlands Special Operations Unit and Nottinghamshire Police.

He appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today where he was jailed for 4 months for absconding. The sentence is in addition to the ten years he received for conspiracies to supply amphetamine, cannabis and cannabis resin.

Omer was a leading member of a Nottingham-based crime group responsible for trafficking class B drugs within the UK. EMSOU officers seized £29,000, 49 kilos of cannabis, 24 kilos of cannabis resin and four kilos of amphetamine as part of their investigation.

Matt Burton, Head of the NCA’s International Crime Bureau, said: “The NCA and its partners pursue fugitives relentlessly. Ahmed Omer thought he could return to the UK and avoid detection but we tracked him down and now he’s behind bars where he belongs.”

Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pearson, from the EMSOU, said: “The recapture of Ahmed Omer represents more than a year of concerted team effort between the National Crime Agency, the East Midlands Special Operations Unit and Nottinghamshire Police.

“This case is a reflection of the dogged determination we have in policing — that an offender will remain on our radar until justice is done.

“It is extremely satisfying, not only to the officers who worked on the original case, but to those who have been pursuing Omer for the last year, that he will now finally pay his dues and serve his sentence.”

Founder and Chairman of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, said: “We are only a few days into the New Year and once again we see a positive outcome regarding a wanted fugitive.

“Working with the NCA and law enforcement bodies, we had a very encouraging 2016 when it came to locating those on the run. My hope is that this will continue into 2017, and this is a great start.”

The EMSOU are still seeking Mark Liscott, aged 56, from Great Barr in Birmingham, in connection with the same investigation. He was jailed for nine years in January 2005 for supplying cannabis. After he was released on licence he allegedly became involved in the distribution of drugs again.

Pictured: Mark Liscott

Liscott was added to the Operation Return most wanted list as officers believe he could be hiding in the Netherlands. He has strong links to the West Midlands and may have returned.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Mark Liscott can contact Crimestoppers anonymously. For those people calling from the Netherlands there is a special freephone number 0800 7000. People can also pass on information via the UK number 0800 555 111 or online www.crimestoppers-uk.org