Colin Wright, a senior member of a major organised crime group (OCG), has been convicted for his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking operation and the operation of an industrial amphetamine lab in Scotland. Wright, 38, was arrested by Spanish authorities in March 2023, following a National Crime Agency (NCA) request for his extradition. He was brought back to the UK on 4 October 2023.
Wright, originally from Motherwell and later residing in Torre Pacheco, Spain, had fled to avoid capture after a crackdown on his criminal network. The OCG, headed by Wright, was responsible for distributing significant quantities of heroin and cocaine across Scotland and England, as well as running an illicit amphetamine production facility in Motherwell.
The investigation, which formed part of Operation Venetic – the NCA’s response to the takedown of the encrypted communication service EncroChat – uncovered Wright’s critical role in trafficking drugs and running the amphetamine lab. In March 2020, as the UK entered its first COVID-19 lockdown, Wright began setting up the lab, which was used to produce large amounts of amphetamines.
Wright used the encrypted communication app, EncroChat, under the alias ‘Jack-Nicklaus’ to coordinate the trafficking of drugs and manage supply routes. He worked closely with fellow criminals, including Terence Earle, who was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years in 2023, and Stephen Earle, who was jailed for 11 years and four months earlier this year.
Wright facilitated the transportation of at least 10 kilograms of heroin and 7 kilograms of cocaine, moving the heroin from Merseyside to Motherwell and the cocaine in the opposite direction. In his arrest, a number of high-value items were seized from his Spanish residence.
Having pleaded guilty to five charges related to drugs trafficking, Wright will be sentenced on 25 November 2023. The NCA emphasized that Wright’s conviction marks a significant victory in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking, particularly in communities across Scotland and Merseyside, where the drugs trade fuels violence and exploitation.
The case also serves as a reminder that criminals who try to evade justice by fleeing abroad will eventually be tracked down, as the NCA has the international resources to apprehend fugitives and ensure they face justice.
Sentence Expected on November 25
Wright’s sentencing is set for 25 November 2023, and he will face a lengthy term in prison for his leading role in the OCG’s illegal operations. The NCA’s investigation into his activities is a part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks operating both in the UK and internationally.