Britain’s FBI get their man: National Crime Agency arrest one-legged British organised crime boss in Thailand after he had been on the run for five years

• Richard Wakeling, 55, was arrested in Thailand after he fled UK ahead of trial
• He was caught at a garage after car pairs while using a different identity 

The boss of an organised crime gang was arrested in Thailand after he was on the run for five years. 

Drug kingpin, Richard Wakeling, 55, from Brentwood, Essex was finally found after he went on the run in January, 2018, ahead of his 12-week trial for trying to import £8million of amphetamine.

Wakeling, who only has one leg, was put on the National Crime Agency’s Most Wanted list- he and his gang were caught trying to smuggle £8million’s worth of amphetamines into the UK via the Channel Tunnel in 2016.

Royal Thai Police officers arrested the criminal on Friday at a Bangkok garage as he went to collect his car after repairs. 

The National Crime Agency found links to the fugitive across the globe as he had connections to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Spain and Thailand.

Drug kingpin, Richard Wakeling, 55, from Brentwood, Essex was arrested in Thailand after he was on the run for five years after trying to import £8million of amphetamine

Royal Thai Police officers arrested the criminal on Friday at a Bangkok garage as he went to collect his car after repairs

He was living his life under a different identity and relocated to the beachside town of Hua Hin and will now face his long pending jail sentence. 

NCA regional manager for Thailand, David Coyle said: ‘The NCA has worked relentlessly to trace Wakeling and ensure he returns to the UK to serve his prison sentence.

‘I thank the prosecutors of the Attorney General’s office, the Royal Thai Police and the Commissioner of the Central Investigations Bureau for their extensive work helping us identify and arrest Wakeling.

‘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 another example of an offender being caught because of the NCA’s global reach and strong relationships with international partners.’

Wakeling was served an 11-year prison sentence in April, 2018 in his absence for the multimillion pound illegal drug operation at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Officials caught his lorry driver Lesley Muffett, 59, on their X-ray system at the UK border in April 2016, after detecting plastic drums filled with liquid amphetamine inside his van.

It sparked a National Crime Agency investigation, which also revealed Darren Keane, 34 and Stuart Davidson, 65 were involved.

The National Crime Agency found links to the fugitive across the globe as he had connections to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Spain and Thailand

He and his gang were caught trying to smuggle £8million’s worth of amphetamines into the UK via the Channel Tunnel in 2016

Muffett had attempted to board a train through the Channel Tunnel as he transported furniture from Italy, the NCA said.

He stopped at Ternat in Belgium and phone evidence showed he was directed by fellow lorry driver Davidson to collect the drugs, his trial heard.

Wakeling, who was in contact with drug suppliers in Belgium and the Netherlands, liaised with Davidson and Keane to arrange the journey, prosecutors told jurors.

NCA regional head of investigations, Jacque Beer, said: ‘Wakeling’s arrest was the culmination of the NCA conducting enquiries around the world to capture him.

‘Wakeling had links to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Spain and Thailand. We pursued these connections and worked with partners from all those countries to help build the intelligence picture around him.

‘We have been supported by the public who responded to the media and Crimewatch appeals to provide intelligence all of which has ultimately led to his capture.’

In 2019 the NCA issued an appeal for help finding Wakeling and released CCTV footage of him before he fled.

He left his home in Juniper Court, Beech Avenue, at 9.48am on Friday January 5. He drove off in his car, a white Audi Q3.

The car was in the Iver area later that day before he caught a bus from Heathrow to Glasgow. The following day he took a ferry from Stranraer to Belfast.

A week later on Saturday, January 13, Wakeling’s car was driven back to his home address.

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