Infamous British Drug Fugitive Arrested in Bangkok, Thailand

[webfact]

PHOTO: Sky News

 

By Tanakorn Panyadee

A British organized crime boss wanted in the UK was arrested on Friday by Thai Police in Bangkok.

 

The suspect, Richard Wakeling, 54, was arrested on February 10th by a joint force from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

 

Wakeling of Brentwood, Essex, was wanted in the United Kingdom on narcotics trafficking charges after he was believed to be involved in the smuggling attempt of £8 million (325 million baht) worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK from Italy in April 2016.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/02/12/infamous-british-drug-fugitive-arrested-in-bangkok-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-02-12

 

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[webfact]

Briton wanted in UK on drug trafficking charges nabbed in Bangkok

 

 

A British national, wanted in the United Kingdom on narcotic trafficking charges, was arrested by Thai police in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district.

 

The UK’s National Crime Agency sought cooperation from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) in the arrest of 54-year-old “Richard”, a British national who was thought to have come to Thailand after jumping bail in January 2017, when he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempting to smuggle amphetamine, worth about eight million pounds, into the UK from Italy in a truck. The truck was seized as the illicit drugs, hidden in plastic containers, were being transferred onto a train on April 9th, 2016.

 

CIB police had searched for the British fugitive for years, until they found out that he had been living in Hua Hin. They then monitored his movements while reporting to the Office of Attorney-General to start the process of extradition.

 

CIB sources said that an arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court on January 31st.

 

The CIB decided to make the arrest when the fugitive travelled to Bangkok, to visit a friend yesterday. He was apprehended by Crime Suppression Division police on a road in Tha Rang sub-district of Bang Khen district.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/briton-wanted-in-uk-on-drug-trafficking-charges-nabbed-in-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-02-12

 

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The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[webfact]

UK drug trafficker arrested in swoop by heavily armed police after being on the run for 5 years
by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

54-year-old Richard Wakefield on Saturday after he was arrested by armed police with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in the Sai Mai district of northern Bangkok. In the United Kingdom, he faces an eleven-year prison sentence imposed in 2018 for drug trafficking.

 

54-year-old Richard Wakeling was sentenced to eleven years in prison by a British court in 2018 following the discovery of liquid amphetamine valued at £8 million in drums on a furniture truck trying to board a Channel Tunnel freight train to the country after a being stopped by the UK Border Force.

 

A convicted British drug trafficker facing an eleven-year sentence at home was taken into custody by heavily armed police in the San Mai district of northern Bangkok on Saturday after 5 years on the run in Thailand and a dogged global pursuit of the fugitive by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

A British fugitive from justice who was the subject of an appeal by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the United Kingdom in 2019 was arrested by the Royal Thai Police on Saturday afternoon at a garage repair shop in the Sai Mai district of Bangkok on Sukhaphiban 5 Road.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/02/11/uk-drug-trafficker-arrested-in-police-swoop-richard-wakeling/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-02-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[proton]

If only he had been doing his 90 days reports they would have nabbed him years ago ????

[Don Chance]

I guess he chose Hua Hin because it was busy enough he could blend in without being noticed. What about the landlord he housed him, isn't he in trouble for not checking his passport?

[nightfox]

16 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

I guess he chose Hua Hin because it was busy enough he could blend in without being noticed. What about the landlord he housed him, isn't he in trouble for not checking his passport?

Not really, maybe a small fine or warning if anything.

[roo860]

He has a prosthetic lower right leg, so probably not been on the 'run', more of on the 'hobble'.

[Denim]

21 minutes ago, Don Chance said:

I guess he chose Hua Hin because it was busy enough he could blend in without being noticed. What about the landlord he housed him, isn't he in trouble for not checking his passport?

He was living under an assumed name. :

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11739189/National-Crime-Agency-arrest-Richard-Wakeling-inThailand-run-five-years.html

 

[IvorBiggun2]

Living in Hua Hin but took his car for repair in Bangkok!!!!! More to this story than what is being told.

[Xanthe]

So those Italian furniture are used to smuggle drugs? My friend in the USA was an Italian furniture importer. May be he had a side hassle also? But his life style does not show that. 

[Xanthe]

27 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Living in Hua Hin but took his car for repair in Bangkok!!!!! More to this story than what is being told.

May be his car broke down In Bangkok so he had to take it to a Bangkok garage. 

[aussienam]

25 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Living in Hua Hin but took his car for repair in Bangkok!!!!! More to this story than what is being told.

Quite possible.  Some things the public should not be privy to as there may be ongoing investigations with associates of this fellow?  Just a guess.  Maybe he was up to badness here too.  

[IvorBiggun2]

Just now, Xanthe said:

May be his car broke down In Bangkok so he had to take it to a Bangkok garage. 

And the police just happened to be waiting at the garage to arrest him?

[swerve]

Must be hundreds of wanted Brits in Thailand.  Seems this is where they come to hide.

[soi3eddie]

6 minutes ago, swerve said:

Must be hundreds of wanted Brits in Thailand.  Seems this is where they come to hide.

A number of times arriving from Bangkok into the UK, the police have come on to the plane to escort off passengers in handcuffs. Can only assume they were wanted fugitives either returning of their free will, or after being extradited to justice.

 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

30 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

And the police just happened to be waiting at the garage to arrest him?

They MADE his car break down so he'd have to take it to the garage, where they could set up this elaborate takedown and impressive photo op. Absolutely brilliant. Never underestimate the BIB.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Living in Hua Hin but took his car for repair in Bangkok!!!!! More to this story than what is being told.

His Brother lives in BKK.

[sungod]

1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Living in Hua Hin but took his car for repair in Bangkok!!!!! More to this story than what is being told.

Maybe he likes Nana?

[sungod]

2 hours ago, Don Chance said:

I guess he chose Hua Hin because it was busy enough he could blend in without being noticed. What about the landlord he housed him, isn't he in trouble for not checking his passport?

Anyone over 70 would blend in there.

[Woof999]

4 minutes ago, sungod said:

Maybe he likes Nana?

As long as he doesn't completely forget Gramps.

[sammieuk1]

Off to the big house for you sonny 11 years plus legging it time and Hua Hin rep is restored ???? 

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm…. Another quality tourist in Thailand….. lol ?

[Tarteso]

Like Walter White in Breaking bad.. He Didn’t like the mundane life.

[brucegoniners]

All the sweethearts come here.

 

They walk among us...

[nauseus]

11 hours ago, roo860 said:

He has a prosthetic lower right leg, so probably not been on the 'run', more of on the 'hobble'.

Should have hopped it instead of going round in circles.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Wakeling of Brentwood, Essex, was wanted in the United Kingdom on narcotics trafficking charges after he was believed to be involved in the smuggling attempt of £8 million (325 million baht) worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK from Italy in April 2016.

That's going to be a long stretch in the pokey back home....

[Northstar1]

10 hours ago, swerve said:

Must be hundreds of wanted Brits in Thailand.  Seems this is where they come to hide.

Hundreds?

I was thinking more in the thousands!

Very few I see around would be anyone I would hang with!

just a rough bunch!

thailand attracts them like pigs to <deleted>!????????????‍♂️

[Tropposurfer]

A right piece of filth ... preying on people ... how low can a person stoop

[finnomick1]

11 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

They MADE his car break down so he'd have to take it to the garage, where they could set up this elaborate takedown and impressive photo op. Absolutely brilliant. Never underestimate the BIB.

Maybe it was a hub that was the problem ?

[finnomick1]

11 hours ago, swerve said:

Must be hundreds of wanted Brits in Thailand.  Seems this is where they come to hide.

All that infamous that we've never heard of them.....