An organised crime boss from Brentwood has started an 11-year prison sentence after being extradited to the UK from Thailand.

Richard Wakeling, 55, was found guilty of trying to import £8million worth of illegal drugs - amphetamine - into the country by suspending it in a liquid in 2016.

On April 9 that year, a truck with some plastic drums carrying the drugs was boarding a Channel Tunnel train when it was stopped by Border Force officers.

Romford Recorder: Richard Wakeling was on the run after fleeing the country on the eve of his trial in 2018Richard Wakeling was on the run after fleeing the country on the eve of his trial in 2018 (Image: National Crime Agency)

The driver was reportedly transporting furniture from Italy but stopped at Ternat in Belgium. 

Phone evidence suggested that he was instructed to collect the drugs, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

The incident triggered an investigation by the NCA into Wakeling’s organised crime group.

NCA officers found that Wakeling had set up the entire operation with the help of two other UK offenders and was in contact with drug suppliers in the Netherlands.

Officers proved the crime group had organised six other importations before the 2016 seizure.

Wakeling escaped the UK on the eve of his trial in 2018 and an appeal to find him was issued by the NCA.

In February this year, officers from the Royal Thai Police arrested him at a Bangkok garage when he went there to collect his car after repair.

Wakeling was found in possession of a passport in another identity at the time of his arrest.

Specialist officers from the Joint International Crime Centre’s extradition unit escorted him back to Heathrow where he arrived on Thursday evening (June 1).

He appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday afternoon where he was immediately jailed after being convicted in his absence.

Jacque Beer, NCA regional head of investigations, said that “the hard work of the NCA officers - both in the UK and overseas - and that of our international partners” has put Wakeling behind bars.

“We will do everything we can to ensure those who commit serious and organised crime are held accountable for their actions, no matter how long it takes or how far they flee.”