EncroChat Boss Rams Police With E-Bike During Marbella Arrest

Dean Garforth was a wanted man in the UK. He led a drug operation, but during his arrest Garforth hit police with an e-bike. He ran to Spain for two years to evade capture.

He used “Slickcliff” on EncroChat in 2020 to arrange drug and gun deliveries across Northwest England. Police noticed him May 24, 2020, when a van sped off from police near Widnes. Police chased the van and seized a phone which linked back to Garforth.

By October 2020, he was in Spain avoiding being caught. In 2022, police asked the public for help, listing Garforth in a “Most Wanted” campaign, as he was thought to be hiding in Spain.

He was arrested October 24, 2022 in Marbella. As officers approached him, he rode an e-bike and rammed a police officer. He resisted arrest, but police, NCA, and Spanish police caught him.

Garforth was sent back to the UK in March and faced charges for drugs and guns. He went to court January 25, receiving a sentence of 19 and a half years, after which police then investigated his finances.

Police found he made £1.5 million from crime and proved he owned £40,331 in assets, including his house equity and a motorcycle. He was ordered to pay back this sum February 11 at court.