'Most wanted' Michael Moogan appears in court this morning after being extradited from Dubai

A FUGITIVE wanted by the National Crime Agency for eight years over his alleged role in a large-scale international drug trafficking plot has been returned to the UK.

Michael Paul Moogan, 36, from Croxteth, Liverpool, was flown back to the UK yesterday (July 4) from Dubai.

Moogan appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court this morning (July 5) and was remanded in custody to appear at Manchester Crown Sq on 9 August. He is accused of conspiring to traffic cocaine between 31 March 2013 and 29 October 2013. No pleas have been entered.

It is alleged that Moogan went on the run after a raid on a Rotterdam cafe in October 2013 which was suspected of being a front for meetings between drug traffickers and cartels.

Working with the Dutch National Crime Squad, the NCA became aware of information allegedly linking Moogan and two other British men to the Café de Ketel – a business closed to the public which could only be entered via a security system.

Investigators believe the café was the hub for a conspiracy to bring hundreds of kilos of cocaine into the UK every week.

NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Miles Bonfield said: “We are extremely grateful to partners for their assistance in ensuring the suspect was traced and returned to the UK.

“I particularly want to thank the Dubai Police and detectives from the General Department of Criminal Investigation in Dubai who used all the techniques at their disposal to assist us.”

Anyone with information about a fugitive is urged to call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

He featured as part of a most wanted fugitives campaign and was arrested on 21 April 2021 as a result of joint working between the NCA, Dubai Police and Interpol in Abu Dhabi.