AN appeal to track down a Somerset man named as one of the UK's most wanted fugitives has featured on BBCOne's Crimewatch Live programme this morning (Thursday, March 17).

Alex Male, 29, from Weston-super-Mare, is accused of drugs trafficking, money laundering and conspiring to acquire a firearm.

Male is believed to have used encrypted communications platform EncroChat to distribute class A drugs across the South West.

He is thought to be on the run in the Marbella area of Spain.

He is alleged to have acted as a regional distributor of drugs in the South West of England, buying and selling drugs and managing other distributors who operated under his instructions.

He is accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine and ketamine.

He features in the National Crime Agency's Most Wanted campaign – run in conjunction with Crimestoppers – which targets fugitives who have fled overseas to escape justice.

Male was arrested by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit as part of Operation Venetic to take down the EncroChat platform.

He failed to stick to his bail restrictions and went on the run in December 2020.

Male is around 6ft tall and has several distinctive tattoos, including a skull on his Adams apple and a full sleeve on his left arm with a family tree.

‘Love’ is tattooed on his left hand along with a swallow and he has three stars tattooed on his left wrist.

He also has a full tribal sleeve tattoo on his right arm going onto his chest with an angel on his back and ‘live’ tattooed on his right hand.

NCA officers in Spain, who are working with their law enforcement partners to locate Male, are asking people who may have seen him, or know where he is, to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 with any information.

Steve Reynolds, the NCA’s regional manager in Spain, said: “Alex Male is suspected of using EncroChat to orchestrate drug deals with crime groups across the South West of England.

"This type of criminality has a devastating impact on our communities, and he needs to face justice.

“Whether it’s from a tip off from a member of the public or use of our specialist capabilities, we will track him down and return him to the UK.”