Derek Ferguson fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, in 2007.
Most Wanted. Derek “Deco” Ferguson(Image: PA)
Cops believe fugitive murder suspect Derek “Deco” Ferguson could be hiding in the British ex-pat community in Spain.
The 62-year-old fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, in 2007.
He was named among the 12 most most wanted fugitives with links to Spain by the National Crime Agency in partnership with Spanish police and Crimestoppers.
On Thursday Spanish police warned the ex-pat community: “These are not the people you want in your neighbourhood.”
Police believe Ferguson is likely to be living in Spain under an alias. He was previously thought to be hiding in Marbella and Calahonda in Southern Spain. Intelligence also suggested he had spent time in Holland, Portugal and Ireland.
Despite high-profile appeals – including Crimestoppers’ Operation Captura – he remains at large after almost 20 years.
NCA deputy director of international Rick Jones said criminals hope to blend in among British ex-pats and often continue offending while living in Spain.
Derek “Deco” Ferguson
He said: “Fugitives rarely stop offending while on the run. They continue to harm communities in both Spain and the UK, and attempt to stay under the radar by blending into large British ex-pat populations. These are not people you want in your neighbourhood.”
“They will generally integrate themselves into these communities, which are populated by many, many thousands of British people who are perhaps enjoying their retirement or running businesses there.
“Criminals will do what they do here, which is integrate themselves and hide among society, and then abuse that trust of those communities and offend against them, or indeed these days it’s very easy to offend against victims or vulnerable people in other countries from anywhere in the world.
“That’s why we are so determined to leave no stone unturned and no safe place for them to do that and offend against the Spanish communities and our own back here.”
The UK’s most wanted fugitives (Image: NCA)
Fugitives often use fake passports in different names, and in extreme cases have surgery to alter their appearance to try to avoid detection during their new life in the sun.
“These are serious criminals and there’s nothing glamorous for the victims who’ve been hurt by these individuals, whether that’s people who have unfortunately got themselves addicted to drugs and will be harmed in a great, great many ways by that, or people being subject to frauds and perhaps lost a huge amount of money, maybe their life savings, from some of the individuals here,” Mr Jones said.
“They’ve chosen to operate outside the law and they’ve chosen to leave this country and abuse the hospitality of a close neighbour of ours.”
The appeal is set to be officially launched at a press conference in Alicante on Thursday.
It included Scotsman John Rocks, 37, who is accused of committing sexual offences between 2012 and 2022 and has been described as a white British male with a slim build and fair hair.
Alexsandr Vladimirovich Kuksov, also known as Alexander Kuksov, 23, who is accused of being part of a gang that laundered millions in UK drug dealers’ money by turning it into cryptocurrency, provided the same service in reverse for cyber criminals, and helped Russian oligarchs avoid sanctions by buying property in the UK. He was last known to be living in Tenerife.
Kevin Thomas Parle, 45, is wanted by Merseyside Police for two murders – those of Liam Kelly in Liverpool in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in Walton in 2005. He has links to Malaga and Costa Blanca.
In the 20 years since Operation Captura started, there have been 11 public appeals naming the most wanted criminals thought to be in Spain and 98 of 111 offenders and suspects have been caught. During the previous Operation Captura appeal, members of the public came forward with information within days.
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Mr Jones added: “[Suspects] shouldn’t feel that they are safe there. But the reason some of them choose Spain is that there are these large communities there, English-speaking, and they feel that they can hide better amongst that fraternity.
“They need to be outside the UK to avoid our attention and they will look for places where they can integrate themselves, and a British expatriate community is ideal for that for them.”
In the past year 56 criminals have been extradited back to the UK from Spain.
British ex-pats living in Spain and holidaymakers visiting the country are being encouraged to look at the most wanted list. Those with information are advised not to approach the suspect or tell them or anyone else if they decide to come forward.
Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously in the UK on 0800 555 111, and in Spain 900 926 111, which will be answered by Crimestoppers in the UK using translation if required.
Alternatively, members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form at the UK charity’s website.
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