A high profile Police operation that involved officers from three forces secured the arrest of a man wanted for alleged drug importation “The Gazette” can reveal.
Five plain clothes Police officers swooped on one of Britain’s most wanted criminals, who has been on the run for over two years.
The 49 year old man was arrested outside Lloyds Bank in Sandown on Friday morning, January 14 2011, as shocked holiday makers and bank customers looked on. During the arrest alarmed bank staff called police as they belived a fight was taking place.
Britain’s most wanted Micheal McNiffe, who previously lived in Bestwood near Nottingham, is belived to have been staying on the Island keeping a low profile, for the past 18 months.
The Gazette has learnt officers from Nottinghamshire Police and the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Unit were following up on a tip off that McNiffe had been living in a flat on the High Street in Sandown, Isle of Wight.
A neighbour who lived in a neighbouring flat said that McNiffe and his partner had been living in the High Street for about 9 months, and had two young children aged four and eight. The neighbour stated “they kept themselves to themselves”.
McNiffe has charged by officers in respect of importing 100kg of controlled Class “A” drugs, believed to have a street value of up to 4.5 millons pounds.
McNiffe appeared before Enfield Magistrates court on Monday January 17 2011. No application was made for bail and he was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey.
