WIREDGOV

A Romanian fugitive wanted for sex trafficking offences has been arrested by the National Crime Agency

46-year-old Manix Lacatusu was detained by specialist officers from the Agency’s National Extradition Unit (NEU) in the Shirley Road area of Southampton on Wednesday 14 January.

He is wanted by the Romanian authorities for the sexual exploitation and trafficking of two girls, one of whom who he attempted to transport to Italy in 2015.

Having failed to answer a summons for his trial he was convicted in his absence. A judge in the Romanian county of Gorj subsequently sentenced him to ten years in prison in May 2024.

Investigations by the NCA and Romanian partners identified that Lacatusu had been living in the UK for several years under a number of aliases to evade detection. Having spent time in the Midlands and North West of England, he was eventually tracked down to Southampton by NEU investigators.

Following his arrest, he was taken to Westminster magistrates’ court where he consented to extradition, and was remanded in custody.

Andy Kelly from the NCA’s National Extradition Unit said: “Manix Lacatusu was wanted for serious offences in his home country, and thanks to our close working with Romanian partners he was tracked down and will now face justice.

“The NCA has specialist teams working night and day to locate fugitives like him, there is no hiding place in the UK.”