{"id":36311,"date":"2026-05-14T14:20:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/36311\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:20:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T14:20:29","slug":"scotlands-most-wanted-man-deco-ferguson-hiding-in-ex-pat-community-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/36311\/","title":{"rendered":"Scotland&#8217;s most wanted man Deco Ferguson &#8216;hiding in ex-pat community in Spain&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Derek Ferguson fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, in 2007.<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Most Wanted. Derek &quot;Deco&quot; Ferguson\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1_Derek-McGraw-Ferguson-fugitive.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Most Wanted. Derek &quot;Deco&quot; Ferguson\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Most Wanted. Derek &#8220;Deco&#8221; Ferguson(Image: PA)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Cops believe fugitive murder suspect Derek &#8220;Deco&#8221; Ferguson could be hiding in the British ex-pat community in Spain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The 62-year-old fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, in 2007.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He was named among the 12 most <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/scots-fugitive-jailed-knifing-cousin-31831265\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">most wanted<\/a> fugitives with links to Spain by the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/scots-fugitive-jailed-knifing-cousin-31831265\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">National Crime Agency<\/a> in partnership with Spanish police and Crimestoppers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On Thursday Spanish police warned the ex-pat community: \u201cThese are not the people you want in your neighbourhood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/scots-fugitive-jailed-knifing-cousin-31831265\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Police<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite high-profile appeals &#8211; including Crimestoppers&#8217; Operation Captura &#8211; he remains at large after almost 20 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">NCA deputy director of international Rick Jones said <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">criminals<\/a> hope to blend in among British ex-pats and often continue offending while living in Spain.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Derek &quot;Deco&quot; Ferguson\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/JS60478497.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Derek &quot;Deco&quot; Ferguson\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Derek &#8220;Deco&#8221; Ferguson<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said: \u201cFugitives 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThey 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cCriminals 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\u2019s very easy to offend against victims or vulnerable people in other countries from anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The UK's most wanted fugitives \" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_ORGANIC_00012_Presentation_1920x1080px_Most_Wanted_ENGLISH_UK_NUMBER_v8_ALL_TWELVE.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"The UK's most wanted fugitives \" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The UK&#8217;s most wanted fugitives (Image: NCA)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Fugitives<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThese are serious criminals and there\u2019s nothing glamorous for the victims who\u2019ve been hurt by these individuals, whether that\u2019s 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,\u201d Mr Jones said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019ve chosen to operate outside the law and they\u2019ve chosen to leave this country and abuse the hospitality of a close neighbour of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The appeal is set to be officially launched at a press conference in Alicante on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It included Scotsman John Rocks, 37, who is <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">accused<\/a> of committing sexual offences between 2012 and 2022 and has been described as a white British male with a slim build and fair hair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kevin Thomas Parle, 45, is wanted by Merseyside Police for two murders \u2013 those of Liam Kelly in Liverpool in 2004 and Lucy Hargreaves in Walton in 2005. He has links to Malaga and Costa Blanca.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the 20 years since <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Operation Captura<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">You&#8217;ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">All you have to do is <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/KSTVj4OXVzG0HyeQZBjVGo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">click here<\/a>, select &#8216;Join Community&#8217; and you&#8217;re in!<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose &#8216;exit group&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">If you\u2019re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/privacy-notice\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Jones added: \u201c[Suspects] shouldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the past year 56 criminals have been <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">extradited<\/a> back to the UK from Spain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">British ex-pats living in Spain and holidaymakers visiting the country are being encouraged to look at the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">most wanted list<\/a>. Those with information are advised not to approach the suspect or tell them or anyone else if they decide to come forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Anyone with <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/news\/scottish-news\/gangland-figures-claim-fugitive-deco-17280531\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">information<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Alternatively, members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form at the<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/ https:\/\/crimestoppers-uk.org\/spain.\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\"> UK charity\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google\u2019s preferred sources. Click <a aria-label=\"HERELink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=dailyrecord.co.uk\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Derek Ferguson fled Scotland after barman Tam Cameron, 49, was shot dead outside the Auchinairn Tarvern, in Bishopbriggs,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36312,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[122,140,125,144,5,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-36311","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uk","8":"tag-drugs","9":"tag-glasgow","10":"tag-gun-crime","11":"tag-police-scotland","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@UnitedKingdom\/116573373887888848","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36311"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36311\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}