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Cocaine baron faces jail sentence Cocaine baron jailed for 30 years
(about 11 hours later)
A drugs baron is facing a lengthy jail sentence later for running an international cocaine smuggling empire. The boss of a lucrative international cocaine smuggling empire has been jailed for 30 years.
Brian Wright, 60, who lived in Chelsea, west London, before fleeing the country, masterminded multi-million pound shipments of the Class A drug.Brian Wright, 60, who lived in Chelsea, west London, before fleeing the country, masterminded multi-million pound shipments of the Class A drug.
His gang used luxury yachts to import the cocaine from Venezuela, via the Caribbean, to the UK, a court heard. His gang used luxury yachts to import the drugs from Venezuela, via the Caribbean, to the UK, a court heard.
Wright, who was found guilty of drugs offences on Monday, will be sentenced at London's Woolwich Crown Court. "You were a master criminal, manipulative, influential and powerful," Judge Peter Moss told him.
He was found guilty of conspiracy to evade prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug and conspiracy to supply drugs. "I accept that you will be a very much older man when you are entitled to be released," he said at Woolwich Crown Court.
"I accept too...the possibility that you may not live that long."
The reality will be that he probably dies in jail Jerome Lynch QC 'Richest criminal' punished A drugs empire unravelledThe reality will be that he probably dies in jail Jerome Lynch QC 'Richest criminal' punished A drugs empire unravelled
Judge Peter Moss said he would not pass sentence until after reading health reports. He said cocaine abuse caused "unquantifiable misery to tens of thousands of victims".
Wright's counsel Jerome Lynch QC said: "The reality will be that he probably dies in jail." "Those who import and distribute it call upon themselves lengthy terms of imprisonment," he said.
"You played for the very highest stakes and won, for a number of years, a luxury lifestyle.
"You knew the consequences of detection and conviction."
Wright, who was found guilty of drugs offences on Monday, accepted he would die in jail, his lawyer said.
He was found guilty of conspiracy to evade prohibition on the importation of a controlled drug and conspiracy to supply drugs.
The 60-year-old listened to the judge ask for any mitigating circumstances, before he stood up to say: "There is no mitigation, Your Honour."The 60-year-old listened to the judge ask for any mitigating circumstances, before he stood up to say: "There is no mitigation, Your Honour."
The trial heard Wright's criminal network was enormous and masterminded the shipment of cocaine with a street value running into hundreds of millions of pounds.The trial heard Wright's criminal network was enormous and masterminded the shipment of cocaine with a street value running into hundreds of millions of pounds.
11-year investigation11-year investigation
A statement by Customs officials released after the case said the network was "probably the most sophisticated and successful global cocaine trafficking organisation ever to target the UK". Customs officials said the network was "probably the most sophisticated and successful global cocaine trafficking organisation ever to target the UK".
An investigation, codenamed Operation Extend, led officers on a massive trail spanning the Irish Republic, the Caribbean, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Australia, France, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain and northern Cyprus.An investigation, codenamed Operation Extend, led officers on a massive trail spanning the Irish Republic, the Caribbean, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, Australia, France, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain and northern Cyprus.
Racing's 'Mr Big'
An 11-year investigation saw 19 convictions worldwide, excluding that of Wright.An 11-year investigation saw 19 convictions worldwide, excluding that of Wright.
The Sea Mist had £80m worth of cocaine on board The probe was sparked in September 1996 when a yacht named the Sea Mist was discovered off course in Cork, in the Irish Republic, carrying 599kg (1,320lb)of cocaine with a street value of £80m hidden in the dumb waiter.
The probe was sparked in September 1996 when a yacht named the Sea Mist was discovered off course in Cork, in the Irish Republic, carrying 599kg of cocaine with a street value of £80m hidden in the dumb waiter.
Over the next two years four further boatloads of cocaine were smuggled ashore under the control of the Wright Organisation, Customs said.Over the next two years four further boatloads of cocaine were smuggled ashore under the control of the Wright Organisation, Customs said.
In February 1999, officers seized 472kg of cocaine from a lock-up garage in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and from a farm in Laleham, Surrey. In February 1999, officers seized 472kg (1,040lb)of cocaine from a lock-up garage in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and from a farm in Laleham, Surrey.
Wright, originally from the Irish Republic, fled to northern Cyprus in 1999. He was arrested in 2005 when he went to Spain.Wright, originally from the Irish Republic, fled to northern Cyprus in 1999. He was arrested in 2005 when he went to Spain.
He was well-known in horse racing circles and rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, including comedian Jim Davidson, who was called to testify.He was well-known in horse racing circles and rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, including comedian Jim Davidson, who was called to testify.
The 60-year-old was banned from going to race meetings and liaising with jockeys and trainers due to evidence he was "previously involved in serious incidents that defrauded the betting public", the Jockey Club said.The 60-year-old was banned from going to race meetings and liaising with jockeys and trainers due to evidence he was "previously involved in serious incidents that defrauded the betting public", the Jockey Club said.