KAVANAGH CASE: Watch the video - moment wanted drug trafficker Gary Vickery arrested on Lanzarote

SPANISH police have released video of the moment wanted drug trafficker Gary Vickery was arrested at a bar on Lanzarote.

Vickery, 38, originally from Dublin, who was wanted after failing to turn up to hearings at Ipswich Crown Court was arrested at in the town of Yaiza, south of Lanzarote on Wednesday, as revealed by Essex News and Investigations on Thursday.

In the video he is seen being taken away by officers of the Guardia Civil and makes no attempt to resist arrest.

It is understood he consented to extradition to the UK and so could be brought back within days.

He is awaiting sentence after he admitted in July 2020 to having a leading role in conspiring to import class A and B drugs and money laundering with Thomas "Bomber" Kavanagh and Daniel Canning in July 2020, but the sentence has been dogged by delays.

Questions still remain around why he and Canning were granted unconditional bail at the first magistrates' court hearing in early 2020, despite having links to Lanzarote, where he was running a pleasure boat business since 2017.

Vickery and Canning, who returned to Ireland during the prosecution, were also suspected of being aligned to the alleged Kinahan crime cartel, which operates across Ireland, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, and Dubai, which would have been strong grounds for a remand into custody or at least conditional bail.

In July 2021, Vickery failed to attend Ipswich Crown Court where he was due to be remanded in custody, and at the end of July a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He subsequently failed to surrender to the court again at a further hearing on September 27 this year.

Spanish police said Vickery was arrested under an International Detention Order issued by British authorities.

A Guardia Civil spokesman said: “The detainee is being investigated for the introduction of large shipments of cocaine and for money laundering.

“This person was a member of the criminal organization led by Thomas Kavanagh, a henchman of the Kinahan Clan in the UK.

“He had been working on several occasions on their behalf in relation to organized crime."

British investigators evidenced Vickery’s involvement in large scale drug shipments worth from £23 to £30 million at UK street value, as well as movements of cash, with Kavanagh, 53, from Tamworth and Daniel Canning, 42, originally from Dublin.

Kavanagh and Canning are both in custody awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiring to import class A and B drugs and money laundering. Canning also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition.

NCA Deputy Director Matt Horne said: “Vickery was given ample opportunity to return to the UK following his guilty plea, but has failed to come back on every occasion.

“We will ensure those who cause harm to the UK though organised crime are held accountable, and this case highlights our tenacity.

“I’d like to thank the NCA officers here in the UK, and our international liaison team in Spain, who have worked closely with colleagues in the Guardia Civil to locate Vickery.”

Vickery, Canning and Kavanagh are due back in Ipswich Crown Court later this year.