Suspected drug baron netted
By ROBIN PERRIE
Published: Today
A SUSPECTED drugs baron who was able to remain on the run after being mistakenly issued with a passport has been captured.
Gary Robb was due to stand trial for drug dealing when he fled Britain in 1997 for Northern Cyprus, which does not have an extradition treaty with the UK.
In 2001 he applied for a replacement passport and was issued with one, enabling him to remain at large.
The fugitive has now been arrested in Northern Cyprus and is today on his way back to Britain.
When he gets here he will be handed over to Cleveland Police who will take him back to the north east to stand trial on drugs charges.
He used to run the Colosseum nightclub in Stockton-on-Tees which was raided by 200 drug cops in riot gear in 1996.
The 46-year-old was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs but skipped bail before his trial at Teesside Crown Court.
The courts in Britain later froze £1.5million of his assets on the grounds that he was suspected of money laundering.
A spokeswoman for the Serious Organised Crime Agency said: "I can confirm that Gary Robb is on his way back to the UK."
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