Drug Dealer’s Seven-Year Run Ends in Prison

Fugitive Faced Justice After International Manhunt

A seven-year international pursuit concluded with the imprisonment of Aaron Godfrey, 35, for drug offenses originating at the Creamfields music festival in 2017. His repeated attempts to evade authorities ultimately led to a longer sentence than he might have initially received.

Initial Arrest and Flight

Godfrey was initially apprehended by security at Creamfields on August 27th, 2017, after a sniffer dog alerted to the presence of drugs. He attempted to discard a package containing ecstasy tablets when security staff requested a drug swab. He claimed the pills were for personal use, but a subsequent investigation revealed evidence of intent to supply.

Police discovered text messages on Godfrey’s phone indicating plans to sell the drugs. Despite being released on bail, he fled to Ireland, becoming a wanted man. He remained at large for years, resurfacing briefly in 2022 before again absconding.

Interpol Intervention and Extradition

An Interpol red notice finally led to Godfrey’s arrest while on a golfing holiday in Spain last year. Although he fought extradition, he was ultimately sent to the Netherlands and then to the United Kingdom to face charges. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, generates an estimated $2.6 trillion annually, highlighting the global scale of such operations. UNODC Report

“Mr Godfrey’s defence was that the drugs he was found with were for social supply to friends at the festival for no reward or payment, I am glad that the Judge dismissed this and the wording in his initial charge stood, this being that the drugs were for commercial supply.”

—Detective Neil Flemming, Creamfields Post Investigation Team

Sentencing and Consequences

In December 2024, Godfrey received a six-month prison sentence for twice failing to appear in court and fleeing the country. He was then sentenced to two years and ten months imprisonment on Wednesday for possessing MDMA at Creamfields.

“What started as a relatively straightforward investigation relating to the sale of drugs at Creamfields turned into a seven-year operation that required several law enforcement agencies across several countries to work collaboratively to locate, arrest and eventually bring Arron Godfrey to justice,”

—Detective Neil Flemming, Creamfields Post Investigation Team

Flemming added, “The irony is that Aaron Godfrey’s refusal to take any accountability for his actions by fleeing the country not once, but twice, in an attempt to escape justice, has resulted in him landing more time in prison than he would have if he had just accepted his crimes.”