One of UK’s most wanted men arrested during his Christmas dinner

Not known if Daniel Burdett was wearing party hat when officers swooped in the Netherlands

One of the UK’s most wanted men has been arrested as he sat down to eat his Christmas dinner.

Daniel Burdett, from Liverpool, was detained on a European Arrest Warrant as he tucked into his festive meal in a restaurant in the Hague, in the Netherlands, on Christmas Day.

The 28-year-old had been on the run for five years. He is suspected of leading a criminal gang smuggling guns, ammunition and drugs into the UK.

But police pulled a cracker when they swooped on the fugitive as he celebrated the season of goodwill with a hearty festive feed.

It is not clear if he was wearing a party hat at the time.

But he now faces 10 charges of conspiracy to import firearms and conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.

He will appear before Dutch magistrates who will consider extraditing him to the UK.

Mark Spoors, branch commander for the National Crime Agency, said: “The arrest of one of our long-standing fugitives is a fantastic result.

“Burdett thought he could evade the law by exploiting international borders, but his arrest shows that no matter where you are, we will catch up with you.

“Other fugitives should pay attention to this and remember how determined UK law enforcement is.

“Thanks to the co-ordinated response by the Dutch police and Merseyside Police, Burdett is now facing extradition to the UK.”