Notorious UK-based gang leader Colin Gunn arrested in Dubai

Dubai: Dubai Police arrested the ring-leader of the notorious ‘Colin Gunn’ gang, wanted in the United Kingdom for trading in illegal drugs and weapons, an official said here on Wednesday.

Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander-In-Chief of Dubai Police, said that UAE received a red-corner notice from Interpol to arrest Craig Martin Moran, a British national who was jailed for life by UK authorities over a series of crimes related to illegal drugs and weapons trade.

The Colin Gunn’s leader was under intensive monitoring by Dubai Police for several days before he was arrested in his car when he left home.

According to Dubai Police, the suspect has a criminal record in his home country since the age of 16. He went to prison several times after an armed robbery at a jewellery shop in Nottingham that resulted in the death of the shop owner.

Dubai Police handed over the 38-year-old ring leader to UK after taking necessary legal action and presenting him before Dubai Public Prosecution.

“Dubai Police is keen to fight organised crimes and take necessary action against them. We work to strengthen the bonds between UAE and other countries in fighting organised crime, to have societies that are free from drugs and weapon-trading,” Lt Gen Al Merri said in a statement.

“The arrest of the Colin Gunn ring-leader came following a full monitoring of his movement by Dubai Police officers after we received the red warrant. He was arrested [by laying] a trap.”

Major-General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, said that exchanging information with British authorities about the ring leader helped arrest him.

“We formed a team of officers to track him. Latest artificial intelligence technology in the Data Analysis centre at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dubai Police was used to identify his residence and track his movement before zero hour,” Al Mansouri added.

Brigadier Jamal Al Jallaf, Director of CID, said that Moran was monitored for days by specialised teams from Dubai Police until he was arrested.

“He was arrested inside his car as soon as he left his residence. The operation was carried out in a highly professional manner and he couldn’t take any action [in retaliation],” said Brig Al Jallaf.

British authorities have praised the role of Dubai Police in fighting organised crime and arresting Moran.

“The British authority affirmed that Colin Gunn ring leader consider a ‘danger person’ as he was involved in crimes threatened the security of the British community like trading in illegal drugs and weapons,” Dubai Police said in a statement.

Criminal Record

Colonel Saeed Al Qemzi, Director at the Wanted Department at Dubai Police, said that Moran was involved in organised crime since he was 16 years old.

“He went to jail many times in the past. He spent 13 years in jail in connection with an armed robbery at a jewellery shop at Nottingham city, which resulted in the death of a jeweller. He was convicted by Nottingham Court for selling illegal drugs worth millions of pounds," Al Qemzi said.

Moran came out of jail last year, but he committed several crimes in his home country, until a life-in-jail sentence was issued, along with a red-corner notice, by Interpol to arrest him.

“Dubai Police's cooperation with the international police department has resulted in the arrest of 52 wanted people recently. They were wanted in several countries for a variety of crimes related to terror, organised crime, money laundering, murder and drugs,” he added.