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One of the UK’s most wanted men arrested in Bulgaria

Benjamin Macann, 32, was arrested at a hotel in Bulgaria. (National Crime Agency)
Benjamin Macann, 32, was arrested at a hotel in Bulgaria. (National Crime Agency)

An alleged cocaine supplier and one of the UK’s most wanted men has been arrested in Bulgaria.

Benjamin Macann, 32, was detained at a hotel in the southern city of Plovdiv on Monday.

He was in possession of a fake passport and a genuine passport in someone else’s name, authorities said.

A public appeal to help trace Macann was made in January this year when the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crimestoppers launched a new Most Wanted campaign featuring 12 fugitives who were believed to be hiding in Spain.

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20th June 2020: Rear view of two male Police Scotland officers on duty in Edinburgh, during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in St Andrew Square, during the Coronavirus pandemic. One officer is wearing protective rubber gloves. Both officers are wearing high visibility jackets with their police uniforms, with the police logo on the back. They are standing looking down the street, keeping surveillance of the crowds. They have handheld radios attached to their jackets to communicate with colleagues.
Macann is wanted by Norfolk Police. (Getty)

Macann, formerly of Beetley, Dereham, is wanted by Norfolk Police for allegedly conspiring to supply class A drugs.

He is accused of supplying cocaine in 2020 during an operation in which he and accomplices used encrypted handsets.

Macann is in custody awaiting the beginning of extradition proceedings.

Detective Sergeant Eddie Hammond, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “We continue to work with partners and law enforcement agencies around the world to locate our most wanted.

“We would like to thank them all for their continued determination and meticulous hard work as they continue to disrupt criminal networks around the world, meaning nowhere is safe to hide.”

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Steve Reynolds, NCA regional manager in Spain, added: “Benjamin Macann’s arrest was made possible after some great work by our international liaison officers, the Guardia Civil fugitives team, Bulgarian Police and our counterparts in Bulgaria’s international cooperation directorate to whom we are very grateful.

“Macann is the fifth fugitive to be arrested from the Most Wanted list. We won’t stop until the remainder are caught.”

Lord Ashcroft, founder and chair of the charity Crimestoppers, said: “It is incredibly encouraging to learn that another fugitive has been caught, proving the success of our joint Most Wanted campaign with the NCA.”