Arrested: Nana Oppong
(Picture: PA)A Londoner wanted for a drive-by killing in Essex has been arrested in Morocco.
Nana Oppong, 42, formerly of West Road, Newham, was held for allegedly trying to enter the North African country using a fake passport in late September.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) only revealed details of the arrest on Wednesday.
Oppong was hunted under a ‘most wanted’ campaign after Robert Powell, 50, died after being shot eight times outside a party near Harlow, Essex, in the early hours of June 13, 2020.
The NCA campaign featured 13 fugitives thought to be hiding in Spain and Oppong was made the subject of an Interpol red notice, which alerts police worldwide.
He was arrested after travelling from Spain to Morocco and is in custody while extradition proceedings are underway.
Steve Reynolds, the NCA’s regional manager for Spain, said: “Oppong’s arrest came about after a sustained campaign to trace him and because of the vigilance of our Moroccan partners and support from Interpol.
“This is another excellent result and shows once again that UK law enforcement does not give up on finding those who await justice in the UK.
“Working with our colleagues at home and abroad, we will continue to hunt those on the run.”
Oppong is the seventh person to be arrested from the Most Wanted campaign, which is run in conjunction with independent charity CrimeStoppers, Spanish law enforcement and UK policing.
Mr Powell died in hospital the day after the shooting in Water Lane, Roydon.
Detective Superintendent Stephen Jennings, leading the Essex Police investigation, said: “Numerous officers and staff across all agencies involved in this case have been working day and night to get justice for Robert’s family.
“Our work continues and we won’t stop until Nana Oppong is back in the UK and facing the courts.”
