Spanish police fear little Oliver Pugh, three, has been taken from Spain to Russia and have named his mother – a Russian citizen – as the prime suspect in his abduction
A major search operation is underway in Spain after the disappearance of a three-year-old British boy.
Oliver Pugh was last seen on July 4 in Marbella, a popular resort on Spain’s Costa del Sol, but his father only reported him missing more than a month later on August 7. Police have released details of who they believe snatched him, with detectives confirming the case was being treated as a “parental abduction”, pointing the finger at his mother, a Russian national. Yesterday, police confirmed little Oliver and his father are both British citizens, while the mother is from Russia.
A spokesperson added: “We are treating this as a parental abduction. We believe the mother has left Spain and has taken the boy to her homeland which is Russia.”
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Police have not gone as far as to share further details about the identity of the mother, or Oliver’s father. However, a well-placed source did explain the circumstances around their relationship.
They said: “The mum and dad are separated and there was a court order preventing the mother from taking this boy out of Spain. They are all based here on the Costa del Sol.”
Police have put out an official appeal detailing Oliver’s description in the hopes of tracking him down. He is described as having blonde hair, grey eyes, being around 85cm tall and weighing 15kg (around 33lb). Police have also shared images of the boy since the abduction took place.
While it’s understood all three of the family were based on the Costa del Sol, the custody situation of the youngster has not been verified.
What makes the case even more difficult, if Oliver has in fact been hauled off to Russia, is the current hostile political climate between Westminster and Moscow.
With the relationship between the two governments becoming increasingly fraught in recent years, British and Spanish authorities could be powerless to order their return due to the lack of extradition treaties.
If a Spanish judge declared her a fugitive and requested an extradition – it would be unlikely the Kremlin would comply.
“Parental abduction” cases are the type of abduction cases most frequently reported. Many cases have a quick resolution, but they become incredibly difficult when the suspect takes the child across international borders.
According to UK charity Action Against Abduction, almost three quarters of children who are abducted and made to cross borders are aged between zero and six, with roughly equal numbers for boys and girls.