ARTICLE AD BOX
THIS is the shocking moment cops tackled a Brit “drug baron” in front of horrified onlookers in Benidorm.
Paul Brown was handcuffed and wrestled to the ground by plain-clothed officers as he left his holiday accommodation.
A notorious drug baron was arrested at a popular holiday resort in Spain[/caption] The 50-year-old is accused of selling illegal drugs in Manchester[/caption] The Brit kingpin was seen being led away in handcuffs as he stepped out of his hotel[/caption] The arrest happened last month in a popular Costa Blanca resort[/caption]The drug trafficker stepped out of his hotel in a typical tourist attire of a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops before he got arrested.
Footage shows the notorious kingpin being forced to the ground as cops handcuffed him.
Brown’s footwear came off during the scuffle as he appeared to resist and four officers were seen grabbing and restraining him.
Amid the chaos, one British pensioner was caught off guard and could be heard saying: “What’s going on? I’m 72 years old.”
Another panic-stricken female holidaymaker screamed: ” Oh my god, what, why? Please tell me why?”
Her plea for explanation was met with a half-answer from police about what was going on.
A detective then told one of the officers in Spanish: “Tell them why” as the fugitive was led away.
Brown was then escorted to the police car and taken to a Benidorm police station for fingerprinting and processing.
He stands accused of selling strong, illegal drugs such as cocaine, ketamine and amphetamines.
The arrest in the popular Costa Blanca resort happened last month, but the footage wasn’t released until today.
The 50-year-old, from Manchester, has been eluding arrest for four years.
A European Arrest Warrant was issued for the wanted Brit in 2022 – two years after an appeal to trace him.
Detective Inspector Rick Castley from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Group said after his arrest: “Brown stands accused of a significant drugs supply conspiracy, and our determination to locate him has not faltered over the years.
“I would like to thank our colleagues at the National Crime Agency and Spanish law enforcement for supporting us in our relentless pursuit to find Brown.
“Brown may have been outstanding for four years now, but we didn’t forget about him.
“Working with specialist resources and our international partners, we will continue to make sure wanted suspects live life always looking over their shoulder.”
Brown is believed to be in prison in Spain as he awaits his extradition to the UK where he might face a life sentence.
A spokesman for Spain’s National Police said today: “He allegedly used encrypted systems of communication to sell drugs.
“He had been on the run since 2020 and was allegedly involved in the distribution of cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines and ketamine in Manchester.”
They added: “He is facing a possible life sentence in the UK if convicted of the crimes he is accused of.”
Brown eluded cops for four years until he was finally apprehended in Spain[/caption] He was led away to a police car and taken to the station for processing[/caption] Brown is believed to be in Spanish prison as he awaits decision[/caption]