Man extradited to UK appears in court

Alex Male appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court earlier

One of England's most wanted men has arrived back in the UK, four years after breaking bail restrictions imposed following his arrest.

Alex Male, 32, of Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, was detained in Morocco on 21 January, after trying to enter the country using a fake passport.

He is accused of money laundering, conspiracy to acquire a firearm, and conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine across the south-west of England.

Mr Male was extradited back to England on Wednesday and appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court earlier, where he was remanded into custody.

Following his initial arrest by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) in June 2020, Mr Male broke his bail conditions, a spokesperson for SWROCU said, and was understood to be living in Spain and later Portugal.

He was added to the National Crime Agency's (NCA) Most Wanted list in January 2022.

Mr Male was arrested four months later in Lisbon, after being arrested in Turkey and returned to Portugal where he had been living.

But his release was authorised in October 2022 after the custody time limit expired.

David Hucker, NCA international regional head of operations, thanked the Moroccan authorities for their "tenacious work" in later locating and arresting Mr Male.

Mr Male is due to next appear at Exeter Crown Court on 5 September.