Callum Halpin: One of UK’s most wanted fugitives arrested in Portugal in connection with Manchester murder | UK News
One of the UK’s most wanted fugitives was arrested in connection with a murder and attempted murder in Tameside nearly 4 years ago.
Callum Halpin was detained by officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Portugal on Monday.
The 27-year-old is wanted by Greater Manchester Police for the murder of drug dealer Luke Graham, 31, and the plot to kill Anton Verigotta.
Graham, a father of two, was ambushed and shot dead during a drug war on a street in Ashton-under-Lyne as the children played nearby in June 2018.
Five men were jailed in July 2019 for the execution.
Halpin, of Openshaw, Manchester, was first named a suspect in 2018 and earlier this year the NCA added him to UK’s ‘Most Wanted’ list.
He appeared in court in Portugal on Wednesday and is being held while the extradition process continues.
Detective Inspector Lee Barrow, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “The news of Callum Halpin’s arrest is an important development in our investigation and we will work closely with the NCA and other relevant international bodies to bring him back to Greater Manchester and further pursue justice for Luke’s family.
“Halpin has been on the run since Luke was fatally shot on that tragic day nearly four years ago and our intention since then has been to make sure everyone suspected of being responsible for his death is safe. arrested and prosecuted.
Steve Reynolds, Regional Director of the National Crime Agency in Spain, said: “The arrest of Callum Halpin comes after some great collaboration between the NCA and our Portuguese partners. , to whom we are extremely grateful.
“The arrest of Halpin comes just 48 hours after another fugitive was arrested in Portugal.
“These arrests should serve as a warning to other fugitives and most wanted people that we won’t stop until they’re caught.”
Alex Male, 29 years old, is detained at Lisbon airport on Saturday after taking a flight from Turkey.
Male, of Weston-super-Mare, fled after being apprehended by the Southwest Area Organized Crime Unit.
He is said to have used encrypted communication platform EncroChat to distribute Class A drugs throughout the Southwest.
