Bangkok, Thailand – British fugitive Richard Wakeling, 54, who was convicted of drug trafficking in the UK, has been arrested in Bangkok after years on the run.
Thai police, in collaboration with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), apprehended Wakeling at noon on Sukhaphiban 5 Road in Sai Mai district. He had been hiding in Hua Hin before his capture.
Wakeling, originally from Brentwood, Essex, was sentenced in 2018 to 11 years in prison for attempting to smuggle £8 million worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK in 2016. He fled before his trial, prompting an international manhunt.
Authorities tracked him down as he was traveling to meet a friend in Ekamai, Bangkok. Following his arrest, Wakeling reportedly consented to extradition and will be sent back to the UK to serve his sentence.
This arrest marks a major success in tackling international drug trafficking networks, with officials praising the cooperation between Thai authorities and UK law enforcement.
