An international drug lord who spent eight years on the run told police 'I’m done now' after he was finally caught. Cocaine kingpin Michael Moogan worked to ship the class A drug from south America and Europe into the UK, bribing port officials to ensure his consignments were not seized, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.
The 36-year-old, one of the UK's most wanted men, initially went on the run in 2013 after police raided the Café de Ketel in Rotterdam, which was thought to be a 'front' for meetings between dealers and drugs cartels. He and two other men, Robert Hamilton, 71, from Hale, and Robert Gerard, 57, from Liverpool, were linked to the venue, which could only be accessed via a security system.
Hamilton was jailed for eight years in 2014 after pleading guilty to drugs charges, while Gerard was sentenced to 14 years in 2017 after spending three years on the run, admitting drug trafficking charges. Now Moogan is set to face justice, after appearing at Manchester Crown Court and admitting being part of a conspiracy to import Class A drugs.
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Moogan was found in Dubai last year and was extradited to the UK. He was kept in custody in Greater Manchester on his return.
After being brought back home, Moogan told the NCA's arresting officer: "You’re not going to have any trouble from me. I’m tired now. Get me up to Manny and get me in Cat A. I’m done now."
The NCA said Moogan was involved in plots to import drugs from Latin America into the UK, and could raise €500,000 at a time to fund his cocaine deals. Moogan also told criminal associates that he smuggled cocaine into the UK concealed in meat from Argentina.
The NCA said evidence showed that Moogan had the ability to bribe port officials to ensure his drugs were not stopped. He is thought to have entered Dubai under a false identity, and had a German passport, a driver’s licence and citizen card in the name of Michael Dier.
Moogan will be sentenced at a later date. After the hearing, Ben Rutter, senior investigating officer for the NCA, said: "Moogan’s long overdue conviction is the result of years of investigation by the NCA and law enforcement partners in the UK, Europe and Middle East.
"We are particularly thankful to the Dubai Police for their hard work in tracking Moogan down and ensuring his return to the UK where he has admitted his guilt. This case should serve as a warning to others on the run from the NCA – we have a global reach, we never give up and they can never rest easy.
"Moogan was a major figure in international drug dealing. His consignments of Class A drugs undoubtedly brought misery and real harm to the UK communities they reached."
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