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| Fugitive ostrich farm fraudster Martin Evans held in South Africa | Fugitive ostrich farm fraudster Martin Evans held in South Africa |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Fugitive conman, drug dealer and money launderer Martin Evans has been arrested by armed police in South Africa after three years on the run. | Fugitive conman, drug dealer and money launderer Martin Evans has been arrested by armed police in South Africa after three years on the run. |
| Evans, 52, from Swansea - who was jailed for 21 years in 2006 for conspiracy to supply cocaine and fraudulent trading - was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday. | Evans, 52, from Swansea - who was jailed for 21 years in 2006 for conspiracy to supply cocaine and fraudulent trading - was arrested in Johannesburg on Saturday. |
| His scams included swindling 87 investors out of £900,000 in an ostrich farm fraud in south Wales. | His scams included swindling 87 investors out of £900,000 in an ostrich farm fraud in south Wales. |
| He will appear in court on Monday. | He will appear in court on Monday. |
| 'UK's most wanted' | |
| Evans was named by police as one of the UK's "most wanted" in 2012 who said they suspected he was living a life of luxury, probably on Cyprus. | Evans was named by police as one of the UK's "most wanted" in 2012 who said they suspected he was living a life of luxury, probably on Cyprus. |
| A spokesman for the National Crime Agency (NCA) said Evans was sought as part of Operation Zygos, which was set up to track Britain's 12 most wanted people. | A spokesman for the National Crime Agency (NCA) said Evans was sought as part of Operation Zygos, which was set up to track Britain's 12 most wanted people. |
| He said: "We knew he had moved to South Africa. We were tracking him down." | He said: "We knew he had moved to South Africa. We were tracking him down." |
| Evans disappeared in August 2011 after failing to return from a weekend release from prison in Wiltshire. | Evans disappeared in August 2011 after failing to return from a weekend release from prison in Wiltshire. |
| He was arrested on Saturday night after an operation involving the NCA and Interpol, and intelligence-led surveillance operations were handled by South African Police. | He was arrested on Saturday night after an operation involving the NCA and Interpol, and intelligence-led surveillance operations were handled by South African Police. |
| Evans was tracked down to the housing complex where officers swooped as he was getting out of his car. | |
| Hank Cole, the NCA's head of international operations, said: "The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing with the South African Police Service led to the capture of Evans. | Hank Cole, the NCA's head of international operations, said: "The exceptional level of collaboration and intelligence sharing with the South African Police Service led to the capture of Evans. |
| Swindled investors | |
| "This arrest shows the NCA and its partners will pursue fugitives wherever they are in the world. | "This arrest shows the NCA and its partners will pursue fugitives wherever they are in the world. |
| "They can run but they can't hide. We have the capacity to track them down and bring them to justice." | "They can run but they can't hide. We have the capacity to track them down and bring them to justice." |
| Evans had been known to use the aliases Martin Roydon Evans, Martin Wayne Evans, Anthony Hall and Paul Kelly. | Evans had been known to use the aliases Martin Roydon Evans, Martin Wayne Evans, Anthony Hall and Paul Kelly. |
| It is not the first time Evans has been on the run. | It is not the first time Evans has been on the run. |
| Before he was jailed in 2006, he had been hiding in Holland and Spain, where he masterminded a drugs and money laundering operation, shipping at least £3m of ecstasy and cocaine into Britain. | Before he was jailed in 2006, he had been hiding in Holland and Spain, where he masterminded a drugs and money laundering operation, shipping at least £3m of ecstasy and cocaine into Britain. |
| Evans began his criminal career in the mid 1990s after his double-glazing firm in Port Talbot failed. | Evans began his criminal career in the mid 1990s after his double-glazing firm in Port Talbot failed. |
| He set up an ostrich-breeding business, promising profits of 70% a year, and targeting newly-retired people for investment by advertising in specialist retirement magazines. | He set up an ostrich-breeding business, promising profits of 70% a year, and targeting newly-retired people for investment by advertising in specialist retirement magazines. |
| But he swindled 115 investors out of their savings in a £900,000 scam. | |
| On the day his trial was due to start in Swansea in March 2000, Evans jumped bail and sent a fax to the court saying he would not be attending. | On the day his trial was due to start in Swansea in March 2000, Evans jumped bail and sent a fax to the court saying he would not be attending. |
| Criminal earnings | Criminal earnings |
| He went on the run as the authorities searched for his assets in Jersey and the Bahamas. | He went on the run as the authorities searched for his assets in Jersey and the Bahamas. |
| He was caught in November 2001 while trying to enter the US with a false passport. | He was caught in November 2001 while trying to enter the US with a false passport. |
| At his 2006 trial at Swansea Crown Court, Evans was sentenced to 24 years in jail, but this was reduced to 21 years and three months, on appeal. | At his 2006 trial at Swansea Crown Court, Evans was sentenced to 24 years in jail, but this was reduced to 21 years and three months, on appeal. |
| He was also given a separate sentence of eight years for failure to comply with a £4.5m confiscation order which the court heard would "extinguish" his criminal earnings. | He was also given a separate sentence of eight years for failure to comply with a £4.5m confiscation order which the court heard would "extinguish" his criminal earnings. |
| The jury was told an investigation had identified Evans owned a property in Swansea, a £2m villa in Marbella and he had bank accounts in Latvia, Antigua, Switzerland, Dominica as well as the UK. | The jury was told an investigation had identified Evans owned a property in Swansea, a £2m villa in Marbella and he had bank accounts in Latvia, Antigua, Switzerland, Dominica as well as the UK. |
| Evans, a former Young Businessman of the Year for Wales, was brought up in Pontardulais, Swansea. | Evans, a former Young Businessman of the Year for Wales, was brought up in Pontardulais, Swansea. |
| He will appear in court in Pretoria for an extradition hearing. | |
| Police said eight people were still being sought under Operation Zygos. | Police said eight people were still being sought under Operation Zygos. |