- Shaun Monaghan is accused of leading a huge drugs gang
- He arrived in Turkey in October and is said to be living in Istanbul
- Video shows armed Turkish officers storming into his hotel room
A suspected British drug gang leader who has been on the run for two months has been captured by armed police in Turkey.
Accused Shaun Monaghan, who was allegedly behind large-scale drug and gun deals, was arrested in a hotel room in Istanbul on December 5.
The alleged dealer is said to have entered the country in October and lived in Fatih, Istanbul. He was wanted on a red notice from Interpol.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed Monaghan's arrest on December 6.
Footage from the ministry shows heavily armed drug police storming into Monaghan's room.
Accused Shaun Monaghan (photo) is said to be behind large-scale drug and firearms deals
Monaghan is suspected of being the leader of a gang operating in the north-east of England involved in drug trafficking, arms dealing and theft.
There is a stack of British banknotes spread out on a table
The chained human trafficker was led down the hotel stairs to a police car
Within seconds, the five ski-masked officers have Monaghan handcuffed as he lies face down on the ground at gunpoint.
There is a wad of British banknotes spread out on a table and an open bottle of vodka on a dressing table.
In a police photo, Monaghan is seen on his knees, flanked by two police officers armed with assault rifles.
The chained trafficker is eventually led down the hotel stairs to a police car as the footage ends.
Minister Yerlikaya said Monaghan entered Turkey on October 25 and his arrest was caused by an Interpol red notice issued on December 4.
Monaghan is suspected of being the leader of a gang operating in the north-east of England involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling and theft.
Yerlikaya said in a statement: “Shaun Monaghan… was discovered and captured by the Cage-16 operation.
'It is established that the armed organization, led by Shaun Monaghan, distributes large quantities of cocaine and heroin in England, is guilty of illegal arms trafficking, armed wounding, armed threats and armed robbery, and that the organization has a large number of long-lasting weapons has. barrel- and pistol-like weapons and ammunition.”
Minister Yerlikaya added: “We are determined to cleanse our country of international and national organized crime organizations.
“We will take them one by one and bring them to justice.”