UKP300M DRUG SMUGGLING GANG CAUGHT IN SIX-YEAR INQUIRY

A gang that smuggled cocaine valued at UKP300 million into Britain has been
broken after a six-year investigation by Customs in the UK, Ireland and
America.

The tonnages smuggled on the gang's vessels provided a significant
proportion of the cocaine consumed in the south east of England.

The alleged organiser, Brian Brendan Wright, 54, is sheltering from
extradition in Northern Cyprus while many of his gang, including his son,
Brian Anthony Wright, are in jail.

Wright snr, an Irishman who spent much of his childhood in north London, was
well-known in the horseracing world as a prolific gambler and a wealthy
entrepreneur.

He numbered jockeys, horse owners and bookmakers among his friends and had
flats in Chelsea and a villa in Spain, where he spent much of his time.

Jim Davidson, the comedian and television personality, gave character
evidence in the trial of Wright's son. Wright snr's long-standing friend,
Graham Bradley, a former jump jockey, described him in his autobiography as
a trusted friend whom he knew as "Uncle".

Wright snr was also nicknamed "The Milkman" - because, Customs investigators
said, "he always delivers". Bradley said of his friend: "It's exaggerating
only a bit to say that he always carries a roll of notes with him that would
choke a donkey."

There is no suggestion that either Mr Davidson or Mr Bradley were aware of
Wright snr's alleged criminality. But if Customs are correct - and they have
issued an international arrest warrant for his arrest - then the source of
Wright snr's cash and largesse was cocaine trafficking on a grand scale.

Wright snr is also suspected of exerting a corrupting influence on
horseracing. He was investigated by the Jockey Club, the sport's governing
body, over race fixing and a police inquiry followed.

He was never charged but several people now face being banned by the Jockey
Club because of links with Wright snr. He is also suspected of using
gambling to launder drugs money, unknown to those who took his bets.

The smashing of the operation can be reported after the last in a series of
Customs trials ended yesterday at Bristol Crown Court.

The major trial began in May 2000, in Woolwich, south-east London, but
reports of proceedings in that and interlinked cases were postponed by
judge's orders until yesterday.

A number of people have also been jailed in Ireland and America. Brian
Wright jnr, 34, a trusted lieutenant in his father's empire, was jailed for
16 years.

Another key player in Britain was Kevin Hanley, 39, on whom Wright snr
relied heavily to organise onward distribution of the drugs.

However, in international terms, the key conviction was that of Ronald
Soares, a 49-year-old Brazilian "economist" who represented the South
American cocaine suppliers in negotiations with Wright and other traffickers
around the world.

The story began, for Customs, with a stroke of good fortune in September
1996. A converted fishing trawler, Sea Mist, was forced by bad weather to
alter its course and seek shelter in Cork.

Irish Customs found about 600kg of cocaine, valued at UKP80 million, on
board. It was clear the drugs had been destined for Britain and Wright's
organisation. In April 1997, a surveillance operation of Wright snr and
others began.

Investigations suggested itinerant sailors were crewing vessels in the
Caribbean, where they picked up drugs dropped in the sea, and then sailed
towards Britain, where the narcotics were transferred to boats hired for day
trips.

Customs have identified seven yachts carrying three tons of cocaine between
1996 and 1998 worth up to UKP300 million. Soares and others were arrested in
February 1999 when Customs seized 472kg of cocaine, valued at UKP61 million,
in Leigh-on Sea, Essex.

Wright snr, however, was out of Britain and fled to northern Cyprus, which
has no extradition agreement with this country. A total of 19 people were
brought to court, 14 of them in Britain.

Of the cases in Britain, nine defendants were jailed after being convicted
or pleading guilty. Four people were jailed in the United States and one in
Ireland.