One of Britain’s most wanted men captured after armed cops swoop on home in Portugal
A SECOND fugitive on Britain’s Most Wanted list has been captured in Portugal - with the country now emerging as the new Costa del Crime.
Alleged murderer Callum Halpin, 27, was arrested by armed cops at an address near the swish Algarve resort of Vilamoura.
He was detained on Monday by Portuguese Judicial Police following an investigation by the UK’s National Crime Agency(NCA).
Halpin’s arrest came less than 48 hours after suspected drug baron Alex Male, 29, was held at Lisbon Airport after landing on a flight from Turkey, where he was earlier refused entry.
Both fugitives were on the Crimestoppers Most Wanted list over suspicions they were holed up in Spain.
But they were hiding out in Portugal, where British villains have recently been relocating in increasing numbers from Spain’s Costa del Sol.
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In February this year an ex-pat wine bar in Vilamoura was firebombed by a gang of British thugs wielding baseball bats and petrol canisters.
Halpin, of Oppenshaw Manchester, is wanted over the brutal murder of dad-of-two Luke Graham, 31, in a suspected drug turf war.
A gunman ambushed and shot Luke dead in June 2018 as children played nearby in Ashton-Under-Lyne.
Halpin is also wanted over the attempted murder of Anton Verigotta, who survived being shot in the leg during the attack, over which five men have already been jailed.
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Yesterday Halpin appeared in a Portuguese court and was remanded in custody pending an extradition hearing.
Steve Reynolds, of the NCA, said: “Halpin’s arrest comes only forty-eight hours after another fugitive was arrested in Portugal.
“These arrests should serve as a warning to other fugitives and most wanted subjects that we will not stop until they are captured.”
Detective Inspector Lee Barrow, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “Halpin has been on the run since Luke was fatally shot on that tragic day nearly four years ago..
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“It has been our intention ever since to ensure all those suspected of being responsible for his death are caught and prosecuted.”
Lord Ashcroft, founder and chair of the independent charity Crimestoppers, said: “Having this fugitive arrested within days of another in Portugal shows how valuable our joint Most Wanted campaign is with the NCA, in helping to find these very dangerous individuals.”