Richard Weild, 39, of Wallasey, Merseyside, has been jailed for 19 years after being identified as the mastermind behind a multi-million pound cocaine empire. Weild operated using the encrypted EncroChat platform, where he coordinated multi-kilo cocaine deals marked with his signature ‘Blacklable’ stamps.
Weild flaunted a lavish lifestyle, including a £70,000 collection of clothes and watches, while running an extensive drug network. His criminal operations included over 50 contacts, some with international links, supplying County Lines gangs and organised crime groups across the North West, as well as locations as far as Plymouth and Southampton.
Despite locked-down roads, Weild’s gangs used disguises such as Highways Maintenance vehicles and removals trucks to transport drugs. The National Crime Agency (NCA) led Operation Venetic following the 2020 EncroChat crack, which allowed authorities to seize Weild’s messages from March to June 2020.
During this four-month period, Weild supplied at least 62 kilos of cocaine to gang clients at £1,500 per kilo, and also provided nearly 15 kilos of cocaine, 2 kilos of heroin, and 42 kilos of cannabis to his own users.
Senior NCA manager Mick Maloney condemned Weild’s actions, stating, “He made vast amounts of money by happily playing a role in an illegal trade that kills people and destroys lives and communities.” Maloney added that Weild will now serve a lengthy prison sentence, far removed from the flashy riches he once enjoyed.
Presenting himself as a legitimate businessman, Weild owned the Gas Works Motor Company in Liverpool’s Wavertree. Investigators estimate he made over £1 million by adulterating hundreds of kilos of cocaine from June 2019 until his arrest in November 2021.
Weild’s assistant, John Morris, 50, managed a safe house in Liverpool where drugs were bulked. Police seized around 20 kilos of Class A and B drugs including cocaine, heroin, “designer” pills, MDMA, and cannabis, along with 22 kilos of adulterants and drug-making equipment.
As part of a Proceeds of Crime Act investigation, thirteen luxury cars were confiscated from Weild’s motor business.
Judge David Aubrey KC stated, “Richard Weild ran a highly sophisticated organised crime group dealing in huge quantities of drugs. He was leading the good life at the expense of others with his trade of misery and destruction.”
Weild pleaded guilty in January 2022 at Liverpool Crown Court to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, 2-CB, cannabis, and transferring criminal property. John Morris received a 10-year sentence for conspiracy and drug offences.
Despite multiple legal delays, including firing barristers and changing pleas, Weild was finally sentenced, marking a significant victory in Merseyside’s ongoing fight against drugs and gun crime.
Originally published by UKNIP.
