A British drugs gang leader on the run for two months has been seized by armed police in Turkey.
Accused Shaun Monaghan, said to be behind massive drugs and firearms deals, was arrested in a hotel room in Istanbul on 5th December.
He is said to have entered the country in October and was wanted on an Interpol red notice.
Turkey’s Internal Affairs Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed Monaghan’s arrest on 6th December.
Footage posted by the ministry shows heavily armed drugs police as they burst into Monaghan’s room.
Within seconds the five ski-mask-wearing officers have handcuffed Monaghan as he lies face down on the floor at gunpoint.
A wad of British banknotes can be seen spread out on a table and an open bottle of vodka is seen on a dressing table.
In one police photo Monaghan is seen on his knees flanked by two police officers armed with assault rifles.
The shackled trafficker is finally led out down the hotel steps to a police car as the footage ends.
Minister Yerlikaya said that Monaghan entered Turkey on 25th October and his arrest was triggered by an Interpol red notice issued on 4th December.
Monaghan is suspected of being the leader of a gang operating in north-eastern England, involved in drug trafficking, gun running and robbery.
Yerlikaya said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Shaun Monaghan, who is the ringleader of an armed organised crime group identified by the Istanbul Anti-Narcotic Crimes, Intelligence and Immigrant Smuggling and Border Crossings Branch Directorates, and for whom a Red Notice was issued by Interpol for the crimes of Drug Trafficking, Armed Injury and Possession of Illegal Weapons/Ammunition, lives in Fatih, Istanbul.
“He was detected and captured by the Cage-16 operation.
“It has been determined that the armed organisation, led by Shaun Monaghan, distributes large amounts of cocaine and heroin in England, commits illegal arms trade, armed wounding, armed threats and armed robbery, and that the organisation possesses a large number of long-barreled and pistol-type weapons and ammunition.”
Minister Yerlikaya added: ” We are determined to cleanse our country from international and national organized crime organisations.
“We will catch them one by one and bring them to justice.”
