Cocaine trafficking fugitive extradited to the UK from South Africa
Benjamin Leslie May, the British fugitive wanted on charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Image: Interpol
A BRITISH fugitive, Benjamin Leslie May, wanted for trafficking cocaine, has been extradited to the United Kingdom after South African authorities successfully opposed his release on bail.
According to NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabezitha, May was deported following the Wynberg Magistrate's Court's rejection of his bail application in May 2023.
This decision was welcomed by Adv Nicolette Bell, the Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, who stated that it marks an important step in ensuring that fugitives face justice.
May faces two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, specifically cocaine, linked to an organised crime network that utilised encrypted EncroChat devices to coordinate the movement and sale of drugs across the UK.
“May was identified as the user of an encrypted EncroChat device responsible for arranging the distribution of cocaine to various contacts around the country, including in South Wales,” Ntabezitha said.
The case dates back to June 2020, when a courier transporting 12 kilograms of cocaine to South Wales was arrested. Investigators later discovered May’s fingerprints on one of the bags containing the drugs.
“May’s fingerprints were recovered from one of the two black bags containing six kilograms of cocaine,” Ntabezitha explained.
After the courier's arrest, messages were sent from the EncroChat handle linked to May, referencing the incident and indicating his intention to flee.
“Following the courier’s arrest, messages were sent by the EncroChat handle ‘splitcactus’ referencing the arrest and stating that he is planning to leave the country,” Ntabezitha said.
In opposing bail, the State argued that May had a history of evading law enforcement and continuing to offend while on the run.
“He has successfully evaded law enforcement in the United Kingdom and overseas,” Ntabezitha stated. “He played an integral part in an organised crime group who were importing and distributing huge amounts of cocaine and laundering millions of pounds.”
The court sided with the State and denied bail in May 2023. May was subsequently deported to the United Kingdom on Wednesday evening,29 January. Ntabezitha concluded, “There is a strong likelihood that he will flee to avoid extradition to the United Kingdom. It is not in the interests of justice to grant the applicant bail.”