National Crime Agency NCA
The National Crime Agency described Dutton as 'violent' Reuters

One of the country's most wanted men, who planned to flood Manchester with cocaine imported via Spain, has been jailed following six years on the run.

Simon Dutton, who was arrested in a Greek hotel last December, was described by the National Crime Agency (NCA) as "dangerous and violent".

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He used a freight service to import goods from Spain containing concealed cocaine between July and September 2009.

Dutton and his associates established a company in Leeds to import the shipments, before moving them to a Stockport warehouse and other locations across the region.

In September 2009, officers seized 10.5kg of cocaine with a street value of £1.5m ($1.95m) hidden in a delivery of air conditioning units.

When five properties across Greater Manchester linked to Dutton were searched, large quantities of cocaine, drug-making equipment, weapons, cash and false documentation were discovered according to the Manchester Evening News.

The rest of Dutton's gang were arrested in April 2010 and convicted at Liverpool Crown Court.

In total, 18 people were convicted as part of the investigation and sentenced to more than 170 years in prison.

Simon Dutton
Simon Dutton, jailed after a six-year manhunt Twitter

Dutton managed to avoid capture and left the UK, leading to a European arrest warrant being issued in his name.

He travelled on a forged Irish passport and set up an account in a false name to launder cash.

According to the NCA his name in his Irish passport was John Patrick McManus.

Dutton was finally arrested on 27 December 2015 after being traced to a hotel in Thessaloniki.

GMP Detective Sergeant Colin Shackleton said: "Dutton and his associates led lavish lifestyles living well beyond their means and purchasing expensively furnished houses, high-powered cars, jewellery and foreign holidays using the proceeds of their illicit enterprise."

NCA Branch Commander Jayne Lloyd said: "Dutton was one of the main players in a large and lucrative criminal organisation based in the north west of England. The NCA never give up the hunt."