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London police have finally caught Ion Gusan, the alleged leader of a major European crime gang, after a 3-year hunt.

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Ion Gusan, a man described as one of Europe’s most dangerous gang leaders.

Gusan, a 54-year-old Moldovan also known as “Nicu Patron,” was intercepted by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) in a dramatic "hard stop" operation. 

Officers pulled him from his chauffeur-driven Mercedes S-Class right in the middle of East London, near the iconic Tower Bridge.

Before his arrest, Gusan had been on the run for three years. Interestingly, investigators believe he had been hiding in plain sight, living in the upscale Canary Wharf area of London.

His luck ran out while he was travelling with family members. French authorities have been looking for him since last May, when he was sentenced in his absence to 10 years in prison. His "CV" of crimes is long, including armed robbery, money laundering, and violent extortion.

Gusan is not just any criminal; he is the alleged head of "The Patron," a powerful Eastern European crime syndicate. 

This group, which started in Moldova back in the early 2000s, reportedly has deep ties to the Russian mafia.

They are accused of running massive smuggling operations across Europe, including moving illegal migrants into Western countries.

British law enforcement officials are calling this a major victory. For over 20 years, Gusan operated at the highest levels of international crime, evading several police forces.

This arrest also sends a strong message. It counters the growing worry that London is becoming a "safe haven" for wealthy foreign criminals. The NCA has made it clear that through international cooperation, there is nowhere for fugitives to hide.