Surprise! Fugitive arrested on his birthday after seven years on the run
26 May 2020 12:14 PM
An alleged drugs trafficker who has been wanted since 2013 was traced and arrested as he celebrated his 45th birthday.
David John Walley was arrested by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on Thursday at a property in Alderley Edge near Manchester.
Walley was wanted by the National Crime Agency for alleged trafficking of cocaine and MDMA and possession of false identity documents.
The arrest comes as the NCA reveals its work with UK policing has led to the arrests of another 104 fugitives during lockdown.
Since 23 March NCA intelligence has led to these arrests on European Arrest Warrants for crimes such as rape, drugs trafficking, sexual exploitation and robbery.
And it has been business as usual for the agency abroad too helping to catch fugitives further afield. In recent weeks the NCA’s work with partners internationally has led to the arrests of suspects in Ireland, Sweden and Cambodia for offences in the UK.
Walley, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, had been wanted since 2013.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued for him and he featured in the joint NCA and Crimestoppers Operation Return fugitives campaign
It is claimed he arranged a cocaine importation to Manchester between November 2012 and 2013
It is also claimed that he was in possession of a false identity document in Holland in 2014.
Jon Hughes, NCA operations manager, recently said:
“Walley has been on the run for seven years but law enforcement doesn’t forget about fugitives.
“The NCA will relentlessly pursue fugitives and use our international reach and domestic partnerships to make sure wanted criminals live a life of high anxiety.
“GMP did brilliant work in this case to arrest a suspect wanted as part of an NCA investigation.”
In a separate GMP investigation, Walley was also charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin, and possession of £150,000 in criminal property.
Walley will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today.