One of Australia’s ‘most wanted’ men Graham Gene Potter, 64, arrested after 12 years on the run

Australia’s most wanted fugitive has been arrested in a run-down Queensland home 12 years after he fled from Victorian authorities. SEE THE MOMENT COPS TOOK HIM IN

Australia’s most wanted fugitive, Graham Potter, has been arrested.

The convicted killer was captured in Ravenshoe in Far North Queensland on Monday morning, ending a 12-year manhunt.

The 64-year-old was found inside a dingy property in which the windows were ­obscured from view and kittens were locked in cages.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mick Frewen, of Victoria Police crime command, said his arrest was a huge breakthrough.

“(He is a) violent person, with crimes of significance and (his arrest is) certainly a dent in organised crime activity ­because his reach not only extended to northern parts of Victoria and NSW but to the existence as a fugitive for such a significant period,” he said.

“There would have been ­assistance along the way for him to continue to exist.”

Graham Potter had been on the run from police since 2010.

Potter is highly connected with organised crime figures across Victoria and NSW.

In 1981, he was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry at Wollongong.

He beat her, then cut off her head and fingers. Potter was released in 1996.

He disappeared from Victoria in 2010 after being charged with conspiracy to murder.

It was alleged that an Honoured Society boss and crime figures from Italy engaged ­Potter to carry out two gangland killings linked to a failed drug importation.

Potter is a sophisticated shapeshifter known to dramatically change his appearance and take on aliases to stay under the radar.

There had been many sightings of him in NSW and Queensland before his arrest on Monday.

In 2010 he managed to get away from police who pulled him over for a routine intercept in Tully, Queensland.

Australia's most wanted alleged fugitives, Graham Gene Potter, 64, has been arrested in Ravenshoe.

Officers later searched a caravan park in Tully where a fat suit and other disguises believed to belong to Potter were found.

Police were tipped off to Potter’s whereabouts early on Monday.

They wasted no time, with officers from Queensland Police pouncing about 8.45am inside a dingy, dark room where the window was covered by a sheet and rubbish was strewn across the floor.

The arresting officer had a gun trained on Potter as he yelled: “Stay there. Do not move.

“This is the police. Do not move. Put your hands where I can see them.”

Potter is due to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Potter could be seen climbing down from a bunk bed and clambering over metal cages before turning his back to the wall and submitting to police.

Also inside the property were stacks of national and state newspapers, dogs, cats and animal cages.

Community health worker Denise Walker said she lives 300ms away from where the 64-year-old fugitive was hiding out.

“I’ve seen him around over the years with an elderly lady,” Ms Walker said.

“It’s a house where you seldom see anyone, it’s always closed up and the garden is overgrown.”

Ms Walker said she was at work when the arrest was taking place, but her father heard the commotion.

“My father drove past at the time and pulled up because a lot of police cars were out the front.

“He could hear police singing out, ‘taser, taser, get down, get down’ and the old lady was screaming.”

Ms Walker said the elderly lady looked about 70 and could potentially be related to the man who was arrested.

“I’ve walked past with the kids on a walk and she’s been outside and we’ve said hello.”

Ms Walker said it made her sick to her stomach to find out the man had been arrested for conspiracy to commit murder.

“It’s really scary to know because that’s not far from the primary school”.

Potter had been linked to the town of Ravenshoe in the past.

Authorities were aware of him living in Ravenshoe in the months after he fled Victoria in 2010 while on bail.

The murder conspiracy charges against Potter relate to allegations he was hired to kill a man at the wedding of Mick Gatto’s son in 2008.

Neither Mr Gatto nor his son are suspected of any wrongdoing.

Potter is also facing federal drug charges in relation to an ecstasy and cocaine haul valued at an estimated $440m.

Before Monday, one gangland theory had it that, because he had gone underground for so long, Potter had been ­murdered.

Mr Frewen said state and federal police never gave up on finding him.

“(This) puts to end a very long and protracted hunt for a very high-end fugitive that is wanted for very, very serious criminal charges,” Mr Frewen said.

“While the trail has gone cold, the resolve to locate Graham right across Australia has not wavered.”

Potter will appear in ­Mareeba Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

He will be met by detectives from Victoria Police to seek his extradition.

Originally published as One of Australia’s ‘most wanted’ men Graham Gene Potter, 64, arrested after 12 years on the run