Drug transporter re-arrested in Spain after escaping jail

An Englishman jailed here for his role in one of the country’s largest ever drugs haul has been re-arrested in Spain after escaping from a British jail.

Gerard Hagan was given a 10-year sentence for his role in the botched attempt to bring €440m worth of cocaine wrapped in 62 bales into Dunlough Bay in west Cork in 2007.

Liverpool native Hagan raised the alarm at a local farmhouse close to Dunlough Bay after the rib in which he and another man, Martin Wanden, were transporting the cocaine capsized. The rib’s engine had been filled with diesel instead of unleaded petrol and was carried into the bay by tide and wind.

Hagan, who also has convictions for violence, admitted his involvement in the drugs shipment in the early days after his arrest on Jul 2 and claimed he was only due to earn £5,000 for his role.

He had been approached in Spain where he was living with his girlfriend and offered the money to get onto the Lucky Day catamaran in Barbados, load the drugs and sail it to Ireland. He was even given a false passport.

While three other men, Martin Wanden, Perry Wharrie and Joe Daly each received sentences of between 25-30 years, Hagan was sentenced to 10 years in Nov 2008 and in 2010 was transferred to a prison in Lancashire to serve his sentence. However, in Jul 2012 he escaped from the prison.

The 29-year-old managed to make his way back to Spain where he was living openly. He has now been arrested while going to training in a gym in Estepona on the Costa Del Sol.

He has already faced an extradition hearing and is expected to be transferred back to Britain to resume his sentence.