UK fugitives: 'Most wanted' men in Cyprus revealed

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A new search has been launched to find some of the UK's most-wanted fugitives thought to be hiding in Cyprus.

The National Crime Agency and Crimestoppers list includes 11 men wanted for crimes including rape, fraud and drug smuggling.

It is thought they are evading justice by living in Cyprus as there is a large British community on the island.

Five are still being sought as part of an operation launched in 2012, along with six new suspected criminals.

After the earlier 2012 campaign - known as Operation Zygos - four of the nine people sought were arrested. The NCA and Crimestoppers are hoping the second appeal will have the same success.

The crimes they are wanted for include the defrauding of 20,000 customers in a travel agency scam, as well as an alleged horse racing betting and blood stocks fraud.

The suspects on the list are:

All 11 men have European arrest warrants issued against them.

'Harm and damage'

Steve Bennett, the NCA's head of European operations, said: "Fugitives don't just give up their criminal behaviour, they typically remain part of the criminal world, creating harm and causing damage, sometimes to the new communities they live in.

"We are determined to ensure life on the run is intolerable for them and that they are brought back to face justice."

Crimestoppers chairman Lord Ashcroft said after the last Operation Zygos appeal in Cyprus in 2012, a third of the featured suspects were arrested within three weeks of the launch.

"Operation Zygos aims to ensure members of the public in Cyprus are alert to the possible presence on the island of the 11 wanted individuals," he said.

Anyone with information on the fugitives is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 if in the UK, or 8000 55 11 if in Cyprus.