Flashy Drug Lord Busted: £1m Cocaine Kingpin’s Flashy Life Comes Crashing Down
Richard Weild, 39, from Wallasey, Merseyside, was a cocaine kingpin with a twist — he bulked out multi-kilo cocaine deals, stamping blocks with fake ‘brand’ labels to fool rivals and customers alike.
£70k Flashy Look, Dark Dirty Business
Weild flaunted an eye-watering collection of clothes and watches worth at least £70,000. Behind the bling, he ran his criminal empire under the EncroChat alias ‘Blacklable’. Using encrypted messages, he coordinated with over 50 gang contacts — some international — supplying drugs across the North West and as far as Plymouth and Southampton.
He even helped gangs move drugs disguised as Highways Maintenance and removals trucks to dodge lockdown road checks.
Operation Venetic Nets Major Haul
When EncroChat was cracked by UK forces in 2020, Weild’s messages emerged as gold dust for the National Crime Agency (NCA). From March to June 2020 alone, Weild adulterated at least 62 kilos of cocaine for Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) at £1,500 per kilo. He personally supplied thousands of kilos of cocaine, heroin, and cannabis, raking in around £1million since mid-2019.
He also directed couriers to courier nearly £800,000 in cash across the UK during that short timeframe. From his façade as a legitimate businessman, Weild ran the Gas Works Motor Company in Wavertree Liverpool.
Downfall & Jail
“Richard Weild was well-connected and viewed by OCGs as a real asset,” said NCA senior manager Mick Maloney. “He made vast amounts of money by happily playing a role in an illegal trade that kills people and destroys lives and communities. He’s going to spend a long time in prison — far from his flashy lifestyle.”
Police seized 20 kilos of Class A and B drugs from a safe house in Knotty Ash run by Weild’s assistant John Morris, 50, who was jailed for 10 years.
Judge David Aubrey KC slammed Weild for running a “highly sophisticated serious organised crime group” dealing in “huge” quantities of drugs. The judge added Weild was “leading the good life at the expense of others” with his “trade of misery and destruction.”
Despite numerous legal dramas with barrister changes, Weild pleaded guilty in January 2022 at Liverpool Crown Court to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, 2-CB, cannabis, and transferring criminal property.
Flashy Quotes from the Drug Baron
- “If I carry on making tops for people an get this weed parcel again I’ll have life-changing money.”
- “The money’s coming in thick and fast, got an easy life.”
- “I can make 30k a week sometimes with no hassle.”
- “Been making 4 to 5 EV week 7500 cash. For one group … I can get you any stamp you need.”
A Proceeds of Crime Act investigation is underway to seize Weild’s ill-gotten gains. His glitzy lifestyle of luxury cars and designer watches has ended behind bars — a price he now pays for distributing misery on the streets.
