One-legged Brit crime boss who spent five years on the run arrested in Thailand
A one-legged organised crime boss has been arrested in Thailand after spending five years on the run.
Richard Wakeling, 55, was caught attempting to import £8million worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK in 2016.
But on the eve of his 12-week trial in January 2018, he fled the country and was placed on the
's (NCA) "most wanted" list.
Wakeling, who has a prosthetic lower right leg, was convicted in his absence at Chelmsford Crown Court and handed an 11-year prison sentence.
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The fugitive, from Brentwood, Essex, was finally arrested in Bangkok on Friday (February 10) and is awaiting extradition to the UK.
Wakeling fled the country in 2018 before his trial (PA)
He was convicted of drug trafficking (PA)He had been living in the beachside town of Hua Hin, according to the NCA and was caught by officers from the Royal Thai Police at a garage as he went to collect his car after repairs.
David Coyle, the agency's regional manager for Thailand, 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."
The NCA launched an investigation into Wakeling's organised crime group after Border Force workers stopped a truck boarding a Channel Tunnel train in April 2016.
They discovered the truck contained plastic drums carrying the drugs.
The driver was transporting furniture from Italy but stopped at Ternat in Belgium where phone evidence showed he was directed to collect the drugs.
The entire importation was set up by Wakeling, according to the NCA.
He was in contact with drug suppliers in the Netherlands and liaised with two other UK offenders to arrange the journey.
Officers believe the crime group had organised at least six other importations before they were caught in 2016.
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Wakeling went on the run from his home in Brentwood before his 2018 trial for the botched drug deal.
Officers from the Royal Thai Police caught Wakeling in Bangkok (PA)At around 9.45am on January 5 he drove off in a white Audi Q3.
His car was then spotted in Iver, Buckinghamshire — less than 10 miles from Heathrow.
The NCA said he then caught a bus to Glasgow before taking a ferry from Stranraer the next day, travelling to Belfast.
A week later on January 13 his car was driven back to his Essex home.
In 2019 the NCA issued an appeal for help finding Wakeling.
Jacque Beer, regional head of investigations at the NCA, 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.”
Mr Coyle added: “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.”
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