Epping man extradited after taunting police from Dubai

A man from Epping, who taunted police via social media from Dubai, has been jailed after being extradited back to the UK.

Adam Ali, 30, of High Road in Thornwood, appeared at Southwark Crown Court yesterday after being arrested in the UAE

Through a joint collaboration between Dubai Police, Dubai Public Prosecutors, Interpol, the National Crime Agency and the Met, Ali was identified coming back into the UAE and was arrested at the airport by UAE authorities on 20 November 2018.

Met officers then travelled to Dubai and Ali was extradited back to the UK on 16 January.

Ali was orginally arrested and charged in January 2017 after officers had attended his address in Epping in relation to allegations of dangerous driving. It was then during a search of his house ammunition was found.

He was bailed to return to court in January 2017 but fled to Dubai on the first day of his trial. During his absence Ali was found guilty and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

While in Dubai he taunted police through his Instagram feed, regularly updating images of himself in clubs and driving sports cars.

In September 2018, police were alerted through information published on his social media that he had made a trip to the USA and with some investigation it was found he was using the name Adam Khalifa.

For fleeing while on bail and failing to surrender, Ali received an additional sentence of 10 months which will be served consecutively.

Detective Sergeant Andy Swindells of the Westminster Crime Squad, which investigated this case from the beginning, said: “It is satisfying to know that Ali is now where he belongs and will rightly serve time in prison for his crimes.

“A lot of time and police work has gone into securing this result and I would like to thank the NCA and our international colleagues who were integral to this success.

“We will do everything in our power to bring to justice those who attempt to evade us.”

Ian Cruxton, head of International Operations at the NCA, said: “Ali fled justice to live a lavish lifestyle somewhere he thought his crimes wouldn’t catch up with him.

“Our international partners – especially the Dubai Police and prosecutors – were crucial in helping to catch and return him.

“It doesn’t matter where fugitives run to; we will do everything possible to find them.”