Dubai Police arrest Michael Moogan, one of UK's most wanted

Michael Paul Moogan from Liverpool was on the run for eight years before he was captured in the UAE

Michael Paul Moogan was arrested by Dubai Police. Dubai Police

Dubai Police arrested a man wanted for questioning for eight years over his alleged role in an international drug trafficking plot.

Michael Paul Moogan was arrested on April 21, shortly after officers received a red notice from Interpol.

The arrest was a result of Dubai Police's co-operation with the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).

The NCA said Mr Moogan, 35, from Liverpool in north-west England, was on the run after a raid on a Rotterdam café in 2013, part of a series of co-ordinated operations in the UK and the Netherlands.

This arrest is the result of years of investigation involving a range of law enforcement partners in the UK, Europe and the Middle East

Working with the Dutch National Crime Squad, the NCA became aware of information that linked Mr Moogan and two other British men to the Café de Ketel – a business not open to the public which could only be entered through a security system.

The café was suspected as a place where traffickers could meet for negotiations with cartels to arrange financing and transport for huge shipments of drugs.

At the time of the raid, only Robert Hamilton, 71, from Manchester, was arrested. He was jailed for eight years in 2014 after admitting drugs offences.

Another man, Robert Gerard, 57, from Liverpool, surrendered to the NCA after three years on the run claiming the pressure was too much.

He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges and was jailed in 2017 for 14 years.

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Five times UAE caught major crime suspects

1. Moufide 'Mouf' Bouchibi was arrested in Dubai after spending a decade evading capture by authorities. Courtesy, Dubai Police

1. Moufide 'Mouf' Bouchibi used forged identification in an effort to evade detection, but Dubai police used artificial intelligence technology to track him down. Courtesy, Dubai Police

2. Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi, faces decades in jail if convicted of alleged frauds worth hundreds of millions of dollars

2. Ramon Abbas, originally from Nigera, posed as a real estate investor and businessman, before his arrest in Dubai. Courtesy: Dubai Police / Dubai Media Office

3. Amir Faten Mekky was wanted by Interpol, and arrested after a sting operation by Dubai special forces on June 3. Image via Dubai Media Office / Twitter

4. Leon Cullen, one of UK's most wanted men was arrested in Dubai in January 2020, and returned to the UK in February 2021 to face trial. Courtesy, Cheshire Police

5. Mugshot images of Edinburgh-born alleged fraudster Afzal 'Bobby' Khan, who the FBI said was arrested in the Emirates. He was extradited to New Jersey, accused of fraud. Courtesy: FBI Most Wanted

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Dubai Police surveillance

Mr Moogan had been on the run since 2013, using false identities to avoid capture.

Dubai Police believed that after entering the UAE using a fake identity, he tried to avoid CCTV in an attempt to elude detectives.

"Upon receiving a red notice from Interpol, Moogan was placed under intense surveillance," said Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant commander of criminal investigation affairs at Dubai Police.

The latest detective techniques, including the services of the criminal data analysis centre, were used to find Mr Moogan.

Lt Gen Abdullah Al Marri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, said the operation was another achievement of co-operation between Dubai Police and international law enforcement agencies. 

Dubai Police said its work with international police agencies resulted in the extradition of 52 fugitives involved in serious crimes such as terrorism, money laundering, murder and drug trafficking.

"This arrest is the result of years of investigation involving a range of law enforcement partners in the UK, Europe and the Middle East," NCA director of investigations Nikki Holland said.

“We are extremely grateful to those partners for their assistance in ensuring Moogan now faces justice and particularly thank the Dubai Police for their efforts to track him down. He will be returned to the United Kingdom to face trial.”

NCA director general (operations) Steve Rodhouse added: “The arrest of Moogan further reflects great co-operation between the Dubai Police and the NCA.

“I’d like to commend their work, in particular detectives from the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai, who showed exceptional professionalism and were able to use all the techniques at their disposal to locate him and carry out this operation.