Scottish drug boss jailed after being arrested in Murcia, Spain
Colin Wright fled to Murcia to escape capture after his fellow gang members were arrested in 2021
Colin Wright, 38, is a Scottish man who was a senior member of an organised crime gang that owned and operated an amphetamine lab in his native country. In March 2021, after his fellow gang members were arrested by the National Crime Agency, Colin fled to Murcia in order to escape capture and prison time.
Colin, formerly from Motherwell, was the leader of the Scottish part of the organised crime group that covered the UK. The gang was famous for trafficking heroin, amphetamines and cocaine.
Colin created an amphetamine lab in Motherwell back in March 2020 during the first Covid lockdown. The lab had the capability of producing 1,000kg of amphetamine. Colin also helped ship at least 20 kilos of cocaine and 10 kilos of heroin between Motherwell and Merseyside.
Colin used the encrypted phone network EncroChat using the handle "Jack Nicklaus" to source drugs, assess supply routes and find customers for his drug enterprises. The National Crime Agency formed a part of a UK-led response to takedown the EncroChat service in July 2020.
Once he was arrested the National Crime Agency confirmed that Colin was the final member of the gang of seven to be arrested.
Colin was known to have worked alongside Terence Earle, 50, who was jailed for over 16 years and his cousin Stephen Earle, 52, who was sentenced to 11 years and four months in August. Colin was the final member of the gang of seven to be arrested.
The National Crime Agency ranch Commander Cat McHugh said:
"Wright's case shows that criminals who seek refuge abroad are never immune from law enforcement's reach…His sentencing means that we have completely dismantled this organised crime group, who posed a grave danger to communities in Scotland and Merseyside, with the drugs they trafficked helping to fuel violence and exploitation."
Colin, now back in the UK, pleaded guilty to five drug charges at Liverpool Crown Court last month.
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Image: National Crime Agency
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