Suspected Drug Smuggler Arrested While Playing Poker in Spain

After years on the run, one of UK’s most wanted drug smugglers was caught while playing poker.

Robert Knight, a suspected drug smuggler, was thought to be hiding out in Spain. While he avoided going to a crowded Spanish poker rooms, the man was found playing the card game in a bar in the small town of Calpe.

Police found and arrested the 53-year-old from Walsall, who had been on the run for six years. In 2013, authorities said Knight was in the top 13 of Britain’s most-wanted wrongdoers. He is believed to be a member of an organized crime group involved in drug trafficking.

The newspapers did not give many details about how he was caught, but playing poker for money in a bar is surely against Spanish gambling laws, as card games are only to be played on licensed casinos and websites.

Hunted down

Police suspects Knight is connected to the seizure of 6kg of cocaine at Heathrow Airport, back in 2008. Five men were arrested then.

Hank Cole, the head of international operations for the National Crime Agency told reporters: “He had been on the run for a number of years but we were able to track him down.”

Inspector Dave Simpson added: “I am delighted that Knight has been caught, it has been a long time coming. This just demonstrates that there is no hiding place for criminals and we will work with police forces from other countries along with the National Crime Agency to seek them out.”