Drug dealer, 70, traced to Bulgarian beach resort after TEN YEARS on the run
A drug dealer who has been hiding from West Midlands Police for 10 years is finally in prison after being tracked down to a Bulgarian beach resort 1,500 miles away from home.
Michael Hogan, now aged 70, was one of four men linked to a £400,000 cannabis haul found at a flat in the West Midlands in June, 2007.
Police say he dodged 'numerous' attempts to arrest him before fleeing to Dublin the following month.
Today, it emerged that Hogan had been living in the Black Sea resort of Varna and was detained near his home in August this year.
Bulgarian authorities were alerted to the movements of Hogan, formerly of Waltdene Close, Great Barr, when he tried to renew an ID card near his home.
He admitted travelling to Ireland, then Spain, before hiding out in Bulgaria.
Hogan, whose fingerprints were found on drugs packaging and a cannabis press in the Acocks Green flat in 2007, was returned to the UK in ths summer.
He has now been jailed for four years and eight months at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting possession of drugs with intent to supply.
Three other men were jailed at the time for a total of 16 years.
Dc Wendy Cordell said: "Cases like this show that crime suspects on the run can never rest easily: they always need to look over their shoulder as justice could catch up with them at any moment.
"Hogan was involved with the preparation and distribution of drugs on a significant scale.
"When officers searched the flat they found 130kg of cannabis and an array of drugs paraphernalia including scales, packaging and hydraulic presses.
"He clearly had plans to enjoy retirement in Bulgaria – but unfortunately for him he'll be spending the next few years behind bars."
