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ARCHIVED - UK Most Wanted female fugitive arrested in Spain
The wanted woman was captured whilst walking her dog in Catalonia
Sarah Panitzke, 47, the only woman ever to be put on Britain’s ‘Most Wanted’ list in 2016, was apprehended in the small town of Santa Barbara on the coast of Catalonia after almost a decade on the run.
Officials received a tip-off in February that the fugitive was hiding out in Spain and finally arrested her on Sunday morning, February 27 when she was out walking with her two dogs.
The York native was originally arrested in 2013 and convicted of laundering up to 1 billion euros through the non-payment of VAT on imported mobile phones. She was sentenced to eight years in prison but absconded during her trial. It’s believed that family ties in Vilanova i la Geltru in Tarragona allowed her to hide out in Spain, but the fugitive also changed her appearance considerably to avoid detection.
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Simon York, director at the Fraud Investigation Service at HMRC, said Ms Panitzke, was “one of Britain’s most wanted tax fugitives”.
“She played a pivotal role in a multi-million pound VAT fraud and moved millions through offshore bank accounts,” he said.
After the Guardia Civil apprehended her, Ms Panitzke was taken into custody in Madrid where she awaits extradition proceedings back to the UK. She now faces up to 17 years in prison.
“This should serve as a warning to others on our most wanted list,” International Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency (NCA) Tom Dowdall said.
"We will not rest until you are captured, no matter how long it takes."
Images: Guardia Civil
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