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| Most wanted Costa suspects named | Most wanted Costa suspects named |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Britain's ten most wanted criminal suspects thought to be on the run in Spain are being targeted in a new appeal on the Costa del Sol. | Britain's ten most wanted criminal suspects thought to be on the run in Spain are being targeted in a new appeal on the Costa del Sol. |
| The men are wanted in connection with drug, robbery and child sex offences. | The men are wanted in connection with drug, robbery and child sex offences. |
| Crimestoppers say they could be hiding in the Malaga area, known as the "Costa del Crime" because so many wanted criminals have fled there. | |
| "These appeals include some very nasty individuals and crimes", Crimestoppers operations director Dave Cording said. | |
| Two of the ten men are on the run after being convicted of their crimes, while the rest are accused of various offences. | Two of the ten men are on the run after being convicted of their crimes, while the rest are accused of various offences. |
| Mr Cording said: "We need you, the public, to help us put [the men] behind bars where they belong." | |
| About a million Britons live in Malaga's large expatriate community, making it easier for the wanted men to "blend in". | |
| Images of the 10 suspects have been put on the Crimestoppers website, and posters and beer mats are being given out at bars and restaurants on the Costa del Sol. | |
| "Operation Captura" involves Crimestoppers, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Spanish police. | "Operation Captura" involves Crimestoppers, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Spanish police. |
| The 'Costa 10' | |
| • Martin Smith - Wanted in connection with rape of a child under 16, attempted rape of a girl under 16, indecent assault of a girl under 16 and gross indecency with a girl under 16 |
| • Jody Flynn - Accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and unlawfully and maliciously inflicting GBH | |
| • Stephen Burnell - Failure to surrender to custody for attempted rape, seven offences of indecent assault, one offence of indecency with a child and two offences of taking an indecent photograph of a child for which he faced 7 years in prison | |
| • Benjamin Murphy - Wanted in connection with the robbery of a jewellers of £1.6m worth of goods and fraudulently obtaining a passport | |
| • Paul Walmsley - Accused of conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. Part of investigation into a group sentences to 133 years in jail for drug smuggling. | |
| • Fatah Benlaredj - Accused of raping a seven-year-old girl | |
| • Mark Brown - Police believe he is head of group that has smuggled hundreds of kilos of heroin into the UK | |
| • Joseph Morley - Disappeared while on licensed day release during 15-year prison sentence for smuggling heroin and cocaine | |
| • Stephen Pitman - Accused of conspiracy to supply a class A drug for which he faces life sentence if convicted | |
| • Michael Eddleston - Accused of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs | |
| Since Operation Captura began in October 2006, a series of appeals have resulted in the arrest of 23 out of 40 suspects. Many are now serving long prison sentences. | Since Operation Captura began in October 2006, a series of appeals have resulted in the arrest of 23 out of 40 suspects. Many are now serving long prison sentences. |
| "The public response to the campaign so far has gone way beyond our expectations in locating criminals," says Lord Ashcroft, who founded Crimestoppers. | "The public response to the campaign so far has gone way beyond our expectations in locating criminals," says Lord Ashcroft, who founded Crimestoppers. |