Most Wanted caught with his pants down

UK crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, can confirm that one of Britain's most wanted men, Adam Hart, was arrested in Amsterdam yesterday by Dutch police. [3 December 2009]

Hart, a kickboxer, who previously resided in Essex, was wanted by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) accused of being involved in the conspiracy to supply controlled Class A drugs, namely Cocaine. On 26 August 2007 Hart evaded arrest as officers searched his premises. Upon arrest Hart had 5,000 Euros concealed in his underpants and attempted to eat a mobile phone sim card. He also had three mobile phones and some false documentation in his possession.

Hart is the eighth person to be arrested under Operation Captura 2 which launched in Alicante, Spain in November 2008. Overall under Operation Captura there have now been 27 out of 50 wanted individuals arrested in just over three years.

"Making our streets safer"

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers said: “In just over a year of launching Operation Captura in Alicante, eight wanted people have already been arrested. We're very proud of the success so far and delighted with the public's help in tracking down these criminals.

“Hart was wanted for serious drugs offences and given the effects that drug crimes can have on families, we have yet again taken another step towards making our streets safer.”

Operation Captura identifies serious criminals wanted by UK law enforcement agencies for crimes committed in the UK. Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) work closely with British Embassy Madrid, British and Spanish law enforcement agencies. The campaign highlights appeals for information on criminals who have European arrest warrants issued against them for crimes such as drug trafficking, murder and sex offences.

To view the outstanding Operation Captura appeals visit the Most Wanted section of the Crimestoppers website.

Calls to the freephone Spanish 900 555 111 telephone number are answered in the UK by Crimestoppers' call agents and a translation service is available upon request. People can also pass on information anonymously via the online Giving Information form on Crimestoppers' website.

-ENDS-

For further information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editors

Adam Hart is the fourth person wanted under Operation Captura to have been arrested in the Netherlands. The others wanted individuals arrested under Operation Captura in the Netherlands were: James Hurley in 2007, John Seton in 2007 and Noel Cunningham in 2009.

Background on Hart's case:

Saturday 25th August 2007 Officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency carried out a number of arrests in relation to the supply of cocaine after 3.5 kilograms of cocaine was recovered from a motor vehicle as it attempted to pass through the Dartford tunnel. Other arrests were then carried out in Hertfordshire by local police officers. Adam Hart resisted arrest following a search of an address in Pufleet, Essex, and subsequently absconded. An International Arrest Warrant was organised as it was thought that Adam Hart had fled the country.

Crimestoppers

• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information' form via this website.
• Around 20 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every six days is charged with murder.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 95,000 arrests and charges. Over £110 million worth of property has been recovered and over £178 million worth of drugs.
• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK's Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 710 arrests to date from 3,400 thousand appeals posted.
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers ‘call to action' is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.

Registered charity number: 1108687