Hunt for ostrich farm drug baron turned prisoner
A DRUG baron and convicted fraudster from Swansea who was said to have made £37 million from crime has once again gone on the run.
Disgraced former Swansea businessman Martin Evans, 49, was given a prison sentence of 21 years and three months for his part in a multi-million pound drug smuggling operation.
-
He was later given a separate eight-year jail term for failing to comply with a £4.5 million confiscation order, after a judge heard he had made £37 million from his activities.
Before being brought to justice for an ostrich farm scam, Evans fled to Spain where he started a new life as a drugs dealer.
Yesterday Wiltshire Police admitted Evans, originally of Pontarddulais, had broken the terms of a three-day temporary release by failing to return to prison.
A spokesman said: "Martin Evans has been an inmate at Erlestoke prison since 2006.
"He was released on temporary licence to an address in Swansea, between August 5 and 8, but failed to return.
"Substantial inquiries have been carried out with many agencies including circulation of his details and photograph to all forces, circulation as wanted on the police national computer, and financial and intelligence checks."
It is not the first time the former Young Businessperson of the Year has been on the run from the authorities.
Days before he was to face justice for swindling 115 investors out of their savings in an ostrich farm scam, he fled to Spain with his mistress.
Evans was apprehended a year later when he flew into JFK airport in New York using a false passport.
His trial at Swansea Crown Court in 2006 heard that Evans had attracted 115 investors who put up a total of £880,000 for the Dunvant ostrich farm business. The company collapsed 24 weeks later because of "large-scale theft".
As soon as money came in, it was siphoned off into a series of overseas bank accounts. The receivers were then called in and the business declared insolvent.
While trying to evade capture for that offence, he then went on to smuggle ecstasy and cocaine worth at least £3 million into Britain.
It was also estimated he earned £9 million using couriers to carry drugs from the Netherlands and Spain to South Wales. He was initially sentenced to 24 years in jail, but this was reduced to 21 years three months on appeal.
A jury was told an investigation had identified that Evans owned a property in Swansea, a £2 million villa in Marbella and had bank accounts in Latvia, Antigua, Switzerland and Dominica as well as the UK.
Detective Constable Kevin Hegg stressed Evans did not pose an "immediate threat" to the public, but it was important he was "swiftly" found.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
postnews@swwmedia.co.uk
6 Comments
by St_James
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 10:23PM
“Can't blame him can you, 20 years in jail is a life time you leave people with no choice and nothing to lose.
Most of you would have done the same (specially if you had a few quid tucked away like he most probably did), unless you would have been happy to go in a young man and come out an OAP, just to have paid you debt to society and then have no life, friends, money, job until you die.
I'm not sticking up for the guy, but part of me wishes him all the best, he didn't kill anyone, he's a crook, and probably am intelligent one that went down the wrong path.
People in charge of these people should understand this.”
by siarad2
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 9:29PM
“Seems a lot of bribary may have gone on.”
by Stork
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 4:43PM
“antyall.
Of course, I missed that. I'm a silly billy.”
by antyall
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 12:28PM
“Stork. Every one who was supposed to be watching him had their heads in the sand!”
by Stork
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 9:47AM
“Err, I thought that if you were sentenced to a prison term of 21 years, then you stayed in prison for most, or all of that time. Or have I missed something ?
With a history of absconding, why on earth was this man let out on a "temporary licence " ?
Will Prison Service heads roll on this one ?”
by Scott_Michael
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 9:30AM
“Well you cannot make an omelette without breaking out, Evans has destroyed many lives, lived many others and faces years holed in the Caribbean like Ronnie Biggs the great train robber, the once young business man has simply gone to ground after feeding himself on the dreams of others, whose lives have turned nightmarish after the dirty rotten scoundrel has swindled them of their savings, now freed from prison what will the man turn to next, with so many drugs out there perhaps he will beat the Chinese swimmers and start to sell human growth hormone or perhaps this brush will terrify him into working as a mortgage advisor as it is unlikely he would have made that much money and may after all be forced to work in Sidcup, which after all is like a prison sentence, hopefully all goes well.If not he faces a long drive to the conjugal caravan site we protest so much against.”