Escaped British Drug Boss Arrested in Thailand

DELTASION.com – Richard Wakeling, a drug gang boss from Essex in England, was arrested in Thailand on Friday (10/2/2023). Wakeling was guilty of attempting to import £8 million worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK in April 2016.

Wakeling is one of the most wanted fugitives by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). He has been a fugitive since January 2018, ahead of his sentencing trial.

1. The perpetrator was arrested in a car garage

British organised crime boss arrested in Thailand https://t.co/GJye59NwY8
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 11, 2023

According to The Guardian, Wakeling, who lives in the seaside town of Hua Hin, was arrested by Thai police at a garage in Bangkok, where he collected his car after it was repaired. He has a passport with another identity. Currently, Wakeling is in custody and the process of extradition to England is ongoing.

David Coyle, NCA regional manager for Thailand, said Wakeling's arrest was an example of how the UK agency was working with its international partners.

"The NCA has been working around the clock to track down Wakeling and ensure he returns to the UK to serve his prison sentence. I thank the public prosecutor, Thai police, and the commissioners of the Central Bureau of Investigation for their hard work in helping us identify and arrest Wakeling," Coyle said.

"With our partners at home and abroad, we are committed to doing everything possible to find those who have fled justice in the UK. This is yet another example of perpetrators being apprehended because of the NCA's global reach and strong relationships with international partners."

Jacque Beer, the NCA's head of regional investigations, said the public response to requests for information had helped trace Wakeling.

"Wakeling's arrest is the culmination of a worldwide NCA investigation into his arrest. Wakeling has links to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Spain, and Thailand," Beer said.

“We are pursuing these connections and working with partners from all countries to help build the intelligence picture. We have been supported by the public, who responded to requests by the media and Crimewatch to provide intelligence, all of which ultimately led to his arrest."

2. Drug smuggling

(Pexels.com/MART PRODUCTION)

According to the BBC, the investigation into Wakeling began after border officials stopped a truck traveling up the Channel Tunnel train on April 9, 2016. The truck was filled with plastic drums carrying drugs.

The truck driver was transporting furniture from Italy but stopped in Ternat in Belgium after being asked to pick up drugs. Wakeling orchestrated the entire breach.

He was in contact with a drug supplier in the Netherlands and was in contact with two other British offenders to arrange travel. Authorities believe Wakeling's group had arranged at least six other imports before the breaches were discovered in 2016.

3. The suspect fled the UK

(unsplash.com/simon frederick)

Wakeling fled in January 2018 before his 12-week trial began and was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years without appearing in court in Chelmsford on April 9, 2018.

The other suspects in the case are truck drivers Lesley Muffett, Stuart Davidson, and Darren Keane. All three are punished for their involvement with Wakeling. Keane was sentenced to 9 years, Davidson was sentenced to 8 years, and Muffett to 6 years.

Wakeling fled in a white Audi Q3 from his Juniper Court home on Beech Avenue, Brentwood, on January 5, 2018, for Berkshire. Then, Wakeling took the bus from Heathrow to Glasgow, then took the ferry from Stranraer to Belfast. A week later the car he had left in Iver, near Slough, was brought back to his home.

The NCA 2019 issued a plea for help finding Wakeling and released CCTV footage before his escape.