A Scottish drug lord, Colin Wright, has been convicted after running an industrial-scale amphetamine lab and trafficking heroin and cocaine. Wright, 38, was arrested in Spain by the Spanish National Police in March at the request of the National Crime Agency (NCA) and extradited back to the UK on October 4. He was found with high-value items like designer clothing at his Spanish residence. Wright, previously of Motherwell, had moved to Torre Pacheco, Murcia in August 2020 to avoid capture after other members of his organised criminal group (OCG) were apprehended by NCA officers in March 2021.
As the head of the OCG’s Scottish branch, Wright played a key role in distributing cocaine and heroin in Scotland and England. He collaborated closely with Terence Earle, who was imprisoned for 16 and a half years in April 2023, and Terence’s cousin Stephen Earle, who received an 11-year and four-month sentence in August this year. Wright used the EncroChat handle ‘Jack-Nicklaus’ to communicate with Terence, sourcing drugs, planning supply routes, and finding customers. He set up an amphetamine lab in Motherwell, where they struggled to obtain necessary solvents for manufacturing.
Wright was involved in shipping at least 10 kilograms of heroin and seven kilograms of cocaine between Merseyside and Motherwell. He pleaded guilty to five drug charges at Liverpool Crown Court and is set to be sentenced on November 25. The NCA’s investigation was part of Operation Venetic, a response to the takedown of the EncroChat service in July 2020. NCA Branch Commander Jon Sayers emphasized the danger posed by Wright’s criminal activity and highlighted the importance of international cooperation in apprehending criminals who attempt to evade capture by living abroad.
In conclusion, the arrest and conviction of Colin Wright highlight the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in combating international drug trafficking networks. Such operations not only disrupt the flow of illegal substances but also safeguard communities from the associated violence and exploitation. By bringing individuals like Wright to justice, authorities send a clear message that there are no safe havens for criminals who seek to evade the law by fleeing overseas.