One of Britain’s most wanted criminals Martin Evans has been captured in South Africa, the National Crime Agency has confirmed.
The convicted drug trafficker, of Swansea, was arrested by armed officers at a housing complex in the Midrand area of Johannesburg on Saturday night.
He had been on the run since 2011 when he failed to return to prison after being released on licence and was serving 21 years at the time for conspiracy to supply cocaine and fraudulent trading.
Evans, 52, a former Young Businessperson of the Year, had previously given the authorities the slip while waiting to stand trial for fraud.
Days before he was to face justice for swindling 115 investors out of their savings in a £900,000 ostrich farm scam, he fled to Spain.
While trying to evade capture for that offence, he went on to lead an international gang smuggling ecstasy and cocaine worth at least £3 million into Britain.
He was later convicted of drug trafficking but released on temporary licence - before making off again.
Tracking down Evans was a global operation - given his previous links to the United States, the Netherlands and the Caribbean.
As part of Operation Zygos in 2012, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) said it believed the disgraced Pontarddulais businessman was among a group of British fugitives hiding in Cyprus.
Lord Ashcroft, founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said the organisation was "extremely relieved" to hear of Evans' arrest
He added: "There are now eight individuals remaining (in the Operation Zygos probe), thought to be evading justice overseas and I have every confidence we will succeed in finding them.”
Evans will appear at Pretoria Regional Court tomorrow for an extradition hearing.
