Alex Male, a West Country drug lord who spent four years on the run, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being arrested in Morocco. The 32-year-old was placed on the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) Most Wanted list in January 2022 before his capture earlier this year. Male was involved in distributing large quantities of high-purity cocaine worth millions of pounds across the UK.
Originally arrested in June 2020, Male fled the UK after being released on bail. He then spent time evading capture in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. His arrest and subsequent extradition back to the UK in August marked the end of a lengthy manhunt. At his trial, Male admitted to conspiracy to supply cocaine, ketamine, and money laundering.
Investigations revealed that Male was responsible for the distribution of at least 130 kilos of cocaine, valued at £4.5 million. He used encrypted messaging service Encrochat, a communication tool favored by criminals, to run his operations under the aliases ‘Originaldagger’ and ‘Ragnar.com,’ the latter a reference to his criminal nickname, ‘Viking.’
Male orchestrated two drug dealing empires in partnership with criminals Tom Allwood, 38, and Danny Ashburner, 33, who were sentenced in May 2023 for their roles in the conspiracy. Allwood was involved in producing ketamine, which was sold by Male’s network, and Male had arranged a £26,000 purchase of ketamine from Allwood in April 2020.
Additionally, Male led a separate criminal group that included drug dealers and money couriers. The group was responsible for trafficking significant quantities of cocaine throughout the UK, including regions such as Portsmouth, Bristol, and Trowbridge. Male’s network generated substantial profits by selling large quantities of drugs.
One key figure in this operation was Kai Williams, who acted as a broker for Male’s crime group. Williams was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his involvement, while other members of the group received sentences ranging from 11 to 15 years.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement agencies used Encrochat data to uncover the scale of Male’s drug operations and gather evidence. The NCA’s international efforts, including collaboration with Moroccan authorities, were pivotal in bringing Male to justice after he evaded capture for so long.
The NCA’s Detective Inspector Adrian Hawkins described Male as a “serious criminal” whose drug trafficking had led to significant harm and violence in the community. David Hucker of the NCA highlighted the agency’s commitment to pursuing fugitives, no matter how long it takes, ensuring justice for victims of the illegal drugs trade.
Alex Male’s case underscores the growing role of encrypted communications in large-scale drug trafficking operations and the determination of the NCA and its partners to dismantle such criminal enterprises.