A Scots drugs kingpin who ran an industrial scale amphetamine lab and trafficked cocaine and heroin has been jailed for 13 years.
Colin Wright, from Motherwell, was the leader of the Scottish wing of a drugs gang that trafficked Class A drugs around the UK.
The 38-year-old had fled to Murcia, Spain, to avoid capture but was arrested at a plush villa by officers after a National Crime Agency investigation.
On Monday, the crime lord appeared by video link at Liverpool CrownCourt where he was sentenced.
The court heard how Wright and his co-conspirators’ drug plot was uncovered following the NCA’s investigation, codenamed Operation Joyfully which prosecutors described as “an investigation into the importation of cocaine and heroin from Europe and beyond to be supplied in England and Scotland”.
Wright, who the NCA dubbed head of the Scottish arm of the conspiracy, used the EncroChat handle “Jack-Nicklaus” to communicate with Terence Earle and Stephen Earle.
Wright also sourced drugs, assessed supply routes and found customers. He created the amphetamine lab in Motherwell. In March 2020, as the country entered its first Covid 19 lockdown, a criminal associate sent boxes of alpha-phenyl acetoacetamide (APAA), a component of amphetamine production, to Wright.
Over the following few days, the OCG began preparing the lab, but despite messages between them indicating that the ‘farm’ (or lab) was ready, they struggled to secure the solvents required for the manufacturing process. Terence and Wright also shared images of the liquid being treated to check what colour it should be.
The major drugs probe was built around analysis of EncroChat messages, taken from a conspiracy window in the early months of 2020 following the hacking of the network by European law enforcement, “supplemented by some careful surveillance evidence”.
Wright assisted in the shipment of at least 10 kilogrammes of heroin and seven kilos of cocaine, with the former being transported from Merseyside to Motherwell and the latter in the opposite direction.
Earle, 50, was imprisoned for 16 and a half years in April 2023 and his cousin Stephen Earle, 52, who was caged for 11 years and four months in August of this year.
Wright moved abroad in August 2020 and remained in Spain to evade capture. He was arrested at his home in Torre Pacheco, Murcia, by Spanish cops who found several high-value items, including Louboutin and Gucci trainers, as well as Hermes bags and watches worth thousands of pounds.
A large pile of cash was also recovered from the home.
After being extradited to the UK, Wright – who has one previous conviction for one offence of careless driving – pled guilty to five drug offences at Liverpool Crown Court on November 1.
In mitigation, Jeremy Rawson, defending, told the court that his client was married with one child aged 10. He said during Wright’s time in Spain he had run a business with his wife, who along with her dad, “spoke highly” of him.
Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Andrew Menary KC told Wright he was “involved in a drug enterprise to supply drugs across England and Wales” despite the “abject misery” they cause in communities across the UK, reports the Echo.
The judge said the prosecution estimated Wright was involved in the supply of 20kg of cocaine, 10kg and over a metric ton of amphetamine. He said conversations showed Wright’s involvement in more and, due to the fact it was a conspiracy, the physical supply of the drugs wouldn’t matter. However, the judge sentenced Wright on the basis of the drugs actually supplied.
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Despite Mr Rawson’s mitigation, the judge told Wright: “I am sure you were playing a leading role by organising, buying and selling on a commercial scale with the expectation of substantial financial gain.”
He said Wright had impressive references from his wife and dad-in-law but said: “It must have been extremely embarrassing for them…realising the extent of your criminal involvement. They recognise you will spend a significant time in custody.
“Your wife to her credit has chosen to stay with you and she will bear the responsibility of your family. I hope you will be able to rebuild your life. You are capable of living a law-abiding life.”
Judge Menary said given the seriousness of the offences there must be immediate custody, and sentenced Wright to 13 years and four months’ imprisonment. Wright, wearing a black Nike top and sporting dark brown hair, gave a slight nod of his head when he learnt his fate. The gang’s leader Terence Earle was jailed last year for 16-and-a-half years while Stephen was sentenced to 11 years and four months at the same court in August.
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