Fugitive Callum Halpin Nabbed in Algarve After 4 Years on the Run
Callum Halpin, 27, has been arrested near Vilamoura in Portugal’s Algarve region. The Portuguese Judicial Police detained him on Monday following a joint operation with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and international partners.
Wanted for Murder in Manchester Drugs Turf War
Halpin is wanted by Greater Manchester Police for the 2018 murder of Luke Graham, 31, and the attempted murder of Anton Verigotta. Graham, a dad-of-two, was fatally shot in a brazen daylight attack during a drugs turf war in Ashton-under-Lyne, with children playing nearby. Five men were jailed over that execution in 2019, but Halpin had evaded capture—until now.
Arrest Follows High-Profile Most Wanted Campaign
The NCA and Crimestoppers launched a public Most Wanted campaign in January aiming to track fugitives hiding in Spain and Portugal. Halpin’s arrest comes just 48 hours after another wanted criminal, Alex Male, 29, was caught at Lisbon Airport arriving from Turkey. Male, wanted for his part in high-level Class A drugs distribution, used encrypted platform EncroChat to evade police.
Police Praise Cross-Border Teamwork
“Callum Halpin’s arrest was made possible after some superb partnership work between the NCA and our Portuguese counterparts,” said Steve Reynolds, NCA regional manager in Spain. “These arrests send a clear warning: we will keep hunting fugitives wherever they hide.”
Detective Inspector Lee Barrow of Greater Manchester Police added, “This is a crucial breakthrough. We’ll work closely with the NCA and international agencies to bring Halpin back and deliver justice for Luke’s family. We’re committed to catching every suspect involved in this tragic case.”
Lord Ashcroft, chair of Crimestoppers, emphasised the value of the campaign: “Having two dangerous fugitives arrested in days shows how powerful our Most Wanted effort with the NCA really is. If you know where any of the fugitives are hiding, tell us anonymously—24/7.”
Since the campaign’s launch in January, four fugitives have been captured thanks to international police cooperation.
