Colin Wright: Scotland’s Not-So-Great Drug Lord
You know you’ve hit rock bottom when your best business partner is a drug lord, and you’re stuck chatting on EncroChat like you’re texting your mate about the latest football scores.
A major drug lord, Colin Wright, has committed the cardinal sin of getting himself caught after managing to run a drug syndicate in style—let’s face it, not just any style but *industrial-scale* style. You’d think they’d at least have the courtesy to stay incognito, but Wright did just the opposite. Under our very noses, he was a big shot in both Scotland and England supplying cocaine and heroin while living it up in Spain. Talk about a vacation!
After being nabbed by the authorities, Wright was swiftly returned to the UK on October 4 and promptly pleaded guilty to five different drugs charges at Liverpool Crown Court. You know, the usual—cocaine, heroin, your favorite party starters. He’ll be sentenced on November 25, and word on the street is that he might need to brush up on his bingo skills once in the slammer.
But let’s get into the juicy bits here. The man apparently fled to Spain back in August 2020, thinking he could swap his baggy tracksuit for flip-flops and a sunbed. Unfortunately, while he was sipping on something fruity, his fellow gang members were being arrested like they were auditioning for a very poor version of Lock Up.
Wright was the mastermind—or is it “head of the branch”?—of the Scottish arm of this criminal circus, which in the grand scheme of things means he played the role of both boss and chief planner for transporting and selling drugs across the borders. It’s reported that he collaborated closely with notorious figures like Terence Earle, who was sentenced to a whopping 16 and a half years. In terms of teamwork, we’d give them a very low score on creativity, but points for ambition!
Now, it gets even more entertaining. Using the EncroChat handle “Jack-Nicklaus”—because when you’re slinging drugs, the PGA Tour golfer is the person you want to emulate, right?—Wright was busy sourcing drugs, assessing supply routes, and presumably discussing how to get a decent espresso while clandestinely running an amphetamine lab. The Scottish criminals of the world clearly need a lesson in how to keep a low profile. You don’t need to be a part of *The Godfather* to know this, gents!
But what became of the infamous amphetamine lab, you ask? Well, it seems COVID-19 really threw a wrench into things! While the rest of us were busy hoarding toilet rolls, Wright was waiting for solvents to arrive. I guess the pandemic really did affect everyone differently—some of us suffering from anxiety and Colin here, from a lack of industrial-grade chemicals.
In his absence, Mr. Wright was involved in shipping out at least 10 kilograms of heroin and 7 kilograms of cocaine. In a mechanical sense, he must have felt quite proud fulfilling orders like some sort of criminal Amazon Prime, just without the two-day shipping guarantee.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has described him as “an integral member of this high harm criminal organisation.” They’ve rightfully condemned his actions, saying that they pose a serious danger to the community. With a criminal operation dubbed Operation Venetic, it seems fitting that even gangsters need a catchy marketing term, as bad as their morals may be!
At the end of the day, Wright thought he could outrun justice, hopping from country to country while double-tapping the “send” button on his criminal dealings. But as it turns out, the NCA is like your elderly relatives on Facebook—they know everything and are probably doing their own digging!
Here’s a piece of advice, Colin: Next time you think about rolling the dice in the world of crime, remember—there are no free holidays, and the only thing worse than getting your drugs seized is getting your life plans derailed by an international law enforcement task force.
So let’s raise a glass, and play a final game of “spot the bad decision” before Colin Wright fulfills his prison sentence. Cheers to poor life choices!
busted bad |
Colin Wright led the Scottish division of a significant drug trafficking organization that dealt in heroin and cocaine, impacting both Scotland and England.
Colin Wright
A major drug lord involved in a large-scale meth lab in Scotland has been convicted following his capture in Spain, highlighting the continuous efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat drug trafficking.
He was extradited back to the UK on October 4, where he subsequently pleaded guilty to five drug-related charges during a court appearance at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.
He is scheduled to receive his sentencing at the same court on November 25, a significant date that will determine his fate following a high-profile investigation.
Wright had evaded capture by fleeing to Spain in August 2020, continuing to evade law enforcement while other members of his organized crime ring were apprehended by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers in March 2021.
Wright played a crucial role in the distribution of cocaine and heroin throughout both Scotland and England while heading the Scottish branch of this expansive criminal enterprise.
He maintained close ties with Terence Earle, 50, who received a 16-and-a-half-year prison sentence in April 2023 for his involvement in drug trafficking.
Earle’s cousin, Stephen Earle, 52, was sentenced to 11 years and four months in prison in August of this year for similar offenses, contributing to the clampdown on criminal activities in the region.
Wright utilized the encrypted communication platform EncroChat under the alias ‘Jack-Nicklaus’ to coordinate with Terence Earle, facilitating the sourcing of drugs and managing supply chains.
He established an amphetamine laboratory in Motherwell in March 2020, coinciding with the onset of the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, which were used to produce narcotics at an alarming rate.
A criminal associate frequently shipped boxes of alpha-phenyl acetoacetamide (APAA), a critical ingredient for amphetamine production, directly to Wright to facilitate his operations.
Despite the gang’s assertive claims that the ‘farm’ for production was operational, intercepted communications unveiled their struggle to obtain essential solvents needed for the drug manufacturing process.
Wright and Earle exchanged various images of the liquid being produced in the lab, meticulously checking its color as part of their operation.
Wright played a significant role in the logistics involving the shipment of at least 10 kilograms of heroin from Merseyside to Motherwell, while also facilitating a return shipment of seven kilograms of cocaine.
The National Crime Agency’s ongoing investigations into Wright’s activities are also part of a larger operation, known as Operation Venetic, addressing the UK’s response to the takedown of the EncroChat service in July 2020.
NCA Branch Commander Jon Sayers remarked on Wright’s integral role within this high-harm criminal organization, emphasizing the significant threat it posed to communities in Scotland and Merseyside.
“The drugs trafficked by this group would have perpetuated violence and exploitation in the affected regions,” he stated, reinforcing the importance of dismantling such organizations to safeguard the public.
“Wright’s case serves as a clear warning that criminals cannot escape justice by fleeing overseas; the NCA possesses the international capabilities to track individuals and hold them accountable for their actions.”
Lograms of amphetamine back to Merseyside. His operation not only spanned Scotland but also expanded deep into England, demonstrating the extensive reach of his criminal network.
The NCA’s investigation into Wright and his associates uncovered a significant quantity of drugs, leading to several arrests and seizures over the course of their operations. The collaboration between various law enforcement agencies played a key role in dismantling this organized crime group.
With looming sentencing days away, the repercussions of Wright’s actions are expected to resonate throughout his network as law enforcement agencies continue their crackdown on drug trafficking in the UK.
