After being extradited from Thailand, an organized crime boss who had been on the run since 2018 has begun serving an 11-year prison term.
Richard Wakeling, 55, of Brentwood, Essex, was arrested in Thailand on June 1. He returned to the country on Thursday evening and made an appearance at Chelmsford Crown Court late Friday afternoon. After being found guilty in his absence, he was immediately imprisoned.
In 2016, Wakeling was found guilty of attempting to import liquid amphetamine worth £8 million, but he fled the UK on the day of his trial in 2018.
Specialized extradition officers from the Joint International Crime Centre’s unit led him back to Heathrow.
Wakeling was stopped by Royal Thai Police officers in a Bangkok garage in February 2023 as he went to pick up his repaired vehicle. He was in possession of a passport under a different identity when he was arrested.
The NCA regional head of investigations, Jacque Beer, stated: By leaving the UK, Richard Wakeling believed he could avoid justice. However, he has been imprisoned for a significant amount of time due to the diligent efforts of NCA officers—both here in the UK and abroad—as well as those of our international partners.
“This case demonstrates the global reach of the NCA and our determination to ensure that those who engage in serious and organized crime are held accountable for their actions, regardless of how long it takes or how far they flee,” the NCA stated.
After Border Force colleagues stopped a truck on its way to board a train traveling through the Channel Tunnel on April 9, 2016, the NCA began its investigation into Wakeling’s organized crime group.
The drugs were transported in plastic drums inside the truck. The driver was carrying furniture from Italy when he made a stop in Belgium at Ternat, where phone records indicated that he had been instructed to collect the drugs.
Wakeling orchestrated the entire importation, communicating with Dutch drug dealers and coordinating the journey with two other UK criminals.
Before the seizure in 2016, officers demonstrated that the criminal organization had orchestrated six additional imports.
The NCA asked for help locating Wakeling after he fled in 2018.