Eight years on the run: ‘Most wanted’ courtesy car driver who ‘flipped’ 4×4 with wife and kids in the back

He led police on a dramatic 20 mile high speed chase[1], then overturned the 4x4 he was driving with his wife and children on board. But after being arrested and charged with driving and drug trafficking offences Shazad Ghafoor failed to show up at court. Eight years later Ghafoor, one of Manchester's most wanted men, is still on the run.

Dramatic footage from a police helicopter shows the moment in August 2013 when the 4x4 flipped over before being surrounded by armed officers. Ghafoor is alleged to have fled from officers in the courtesy car, which he had earlier picked up from the Williams Land Rover dealership in Manchester[2] using a driving licence in another person's name. Police say Ghafoor, then 27, drove off at speed and he was pursued in a chase which was caught on camera by the police helicopter.

The footage shows the car speed through built-up residential areas before the chase enters countryside roads and within minutes the 4x4 car overturns near Halifax. Armed officers surround the car as a man gets out with his arms up. He is seen lying on the ground as officers help a woman and children from the vehicle.

The woman and two children suffered minor injuries. After the arrest between GBP80,000 to GBP100,000 in cash was recovered. There were traces of heroin, cocaine, and cannabis on the notes.

Ghafoor was charged with fraud, possession of criminal property, dangerous driving and disqualified driving.

He was also charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply after a vehicle was searched in Withington[5] in November 2013 and cannabis worth GBP245,000 was found. In May 2014 he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was due to appear in court the following February in relation to the other charges but failed to answer his bail and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was also charged with possession of cannabis with intent to supply in relation to a separate seizure of cannabis worth GBP24,000 that was found at house in Kingsway Avenue, Burnage in September 2014. To this day he remains one of the National Crime Agency's most wanted fugitives[6]. In 2016 it was reported Ghafoor was believed to be in the Netherlands using a string of aliases, including Mohammed Shazad, Andul Ghafor, Nadeem Ahmed, and Nadeen Javiad.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued for his arrest. On the NCA website he is described as 5ft 11in, medium build, with pock mark on his right cheek, and scar on the right of his nose, and another on top of his right hand. He is thought to be 37-years-old, but has also claimed to be 41.

Police have previously said he has links to Whalley Range[7], Longsight[8] and Burnage as well as West Yorkshire and the Netherlands.

References

1. ^ dramatic 20 mile high speed chase (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ in Manchester (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ 'Feds can't get in them can they': How cops busted EncroChat gang led by kingpin 'payyabills' (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ Nicola Bulley police 'linking in' with cops in search for missing Gaynor Lord (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Withington (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ National Crime Agency's most wanted fugitives (www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk)
7. ^ Whalley Range (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
8. ^ Longsight (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)