A British man accused of being the “ringleader” of an armed drugs gang has been arrested in Turkey – after being made the subject of an Interpol red notice.

Shaun Monaghan was detained by armed police who swooped on a hotel room on Tuesday.

He was held in Istanbul‘s Fatih district, a day after Interpol issued a notice for his arrest.

Monaghan is accused of heading up a gang that is allegedly responsible for the distribution of “large amounts” of cocaine and heroin in England.

According to Turkey‘s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, who announced Monaghan’s arrest on social media on Wednesday, the gang is also involved in the illegal arms trade.

“It has been determined that the organisation has a large number of long-barrelled and pistol-type weapons and ammunition,” Mr Yerlikaya said in a post on X.

According to Mr Yerlikaya, who also included in his post a video of armed police arresting Monaghan in a hotel room in Turkey, the suspect arrived in the country in October.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more from Sky News:
People removed from COVID inquiry as Boris Johnson interrupted
Redknapp comes out of retirement to help UK’s ‘worst performing team’

Last month, Mr Yerlikaya said Turkey had captured Hakan Ayik, a top fugitive wanted in Australia for drug smuggling, and 36 others allegedly involved in an international organised crime ring that has also been pursued by US and New Zealand authorities.

The minister also said at the weekend that police had captured Shamil Amirov, a senior figure in an organised crime group called “Thieves in Law”, which operates in Russia.

Related posts:

Muslims urged to remain cautious during Eid as global celebrations muted by pandemic Twitter banned in Nigeria after president’s tweet removed At least three dead and dozens feared missing after landslide through seaside resort Two sisters, aged 18 and 12, killed by lightning strike in Norway Two people dead as man falls from seventh floor at ABBA tribute concert Plight of young Afghans ‘absolutely heartbreaking’, says children’s commissioner, urging world to act Breakthrough spinal implant ‘may let paralysed people walk again’ Macron fails to win outright majority in French National Assembly elections, projections show One man’s perilous mission to ease civilians’ plight on Ukraine frontline Mexico immigration agency chief to face charges after fire killed 40 migrants Vladimir Putin plans rare overseas trip to visit NATO member Turkey European Union’s first openly gay head of state sworn in