A RUTHERGLEN fugitive has appeared on a new "most wanted" list that is part of a fresh campaign to trace 12 men believed to be hiding in Spain.

James ‘Jamie’ Stevenson was named as one of the dozen criminals who are on the run. His last known address is Fishescoates Gardens, but police say he has links to Barcelona and Alicante.

The 56-year-old is wanted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Police Scotland over the seizure of approximately one tonne of cocaine and 28 million street Valium tablets.

Glasgow Times:

The cocaine was found in a shipment at the Port of Dover in September 2020 and the tablets were seized following a raid on a suspected pill factory in Kent in June 2020.

Stevenson, who is stocky and has a scar on the left side of his face, is also wanted in connection with two suspected arson attacks on properties in Lanarkshire and Forth Valley in May 2020.

Members of the public have been advised not to approach Stevenson directly.

Gerry McLean, NCA regional head of investigation for Scotland, said: “Stevenson is one of Scotland’s most wanted fugitives.

“He knows we are looking for him in connection with organised crime on both sides of the border.

“The NCA and Police Scotland will not rest until he is captured. Anyone who is helping him stay on the run will be targeted too.”

Glasgow Times:

The NCA’s new campaign is run in conjunction with CrimeStoppers, Spanish law enforcement, and police and comes on the back of the extremely successful Operation Captura fugitives’ campaign, which resulted in the arrests of 86 offenders.

Steve Rodhouse, the NCA’s director general of operations, said: “Spain is not a safe haven. We have a brilliant relationship with the country’s various law enforcement agencies and work together daily to protect the public.

“With 86 offenders arrested in our last campaign, criminals know we will never give up and we’re never far behind them.

“Our Spanish partners were crucial to many of those arrests, and in 2021 arrested and returned more than 25 wanted UK fugitives.

“Fugitives usually continue offending while on the run and these men will be known in criminal circles wherever they are.

“Many of them will be trying to blend into the large British communities who have made their homes in Spain, and if you are a resident, you may know one of them from your town or village.

“Loyalties change over time, and we urge anyone with information about these men to help us find them.”

Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, and callers in Spain should call the freephone Spanish number 900 926 111, which will be answered by CrimeStoppers in the UK (using translation if required).

Alternatively, members of the public can fill out an anonymous online form at the UK charity’s website crimestoppers-uk.org/fugitives.

Those living or visiting Spain are advised to visit the NCA and CrimeStoppers websites and look at the Most Wanted list.