A DRUGS baron continues to evade capture more than a decade after fleeing the country - despite a high profile publicity campaign to track him down.

Mark Lilley skipped bail during a trial in 2000 at Bolton Crown Court.

He was sentenced in his absence to a 23-year jail term for conspiracy to supply drugs but has never been brought to justice.

This week it emerged ex-Newton High pupil Lilley remains on Crimestoppers’ list of the Most Wanted Spanish-based fugitives.

Operation Captura – which publicises mug shots of on the run criminals being hunted by the Serious Organised Crime Squad – has to date netted 39 out of 60 of the fugitives it has publicised appeals to trace.

Posters of the fugitives, with crosses marking the faces of those captured have been issued, but tellingly, Lilley’s image is clear.

Detectives believe the ex-gas fitter, formerly of Bank Street, Earlestown, fled the country to Spain.

The last reported sighting of him is believed to have been in Playa de las Americas, Tenerife, during 2003, where a holidaying policeman - a former schoolfriend of the fugitive - spotted him behind the wheel of a Mercedes.

Police still hope members of the ex-pat community in southern Spain and nearby islands may recognise Lilley and tip-off the authorities.

SOCA will not comment on whether there has been intelligence passed on over the years about Lilley’s whereabouts.

However, in general terms it states the appeals are paying dividends.

Ken Gallagher, head of European Operations for SOCA, said: “Operation Captura is helping make the ex-pat community in Spain an uncomfortable place for fugitives. Having the public's attention focussed on these individuals goes a long way to making it harder for them to hide and should act as a warning that Spain is no safe haven for British criminals.”

The campaign highlights appeals for information on fugitives facing prosecution in the UK who have European Arrest Warrants issued against them.

Information given to Crimestoppers anonymously can help trace them, enabling Spanish police to make arrests.

The Crimestoppers website lists a number of aliases used by Lilley such as Coney, TJ, Fatboy, Big Vern and Mandy.

He stands around 6ft tall, is powerfully built and has two small scars between the little finger and ring fingers of his right hand.

He was convicted in April 2000 of conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis resin, along with a firearms offence.

Drugs totalling £1.2 million were seized from homes as part of police raids and detectives bugged Lilley's home in a bid to obtain evidence.

In 2002, he failed in an audacious appeal bid to get his sentence quashed.

He gave instructions to his barrister via a mobile phone but never attended court.