The head of a drug lab in Scotland has been arrested after being arrested in Spain

A senior member of an organized crime group who ran an amphetamine lab in Scotland has been jailed for 13 years.

Colin Wright, 38, fled to Murcia in Spain to avoid arrest after other members of the gang were caught in a National Crime Agency (NCA) operation in March 2021.

Wright, who was from Motherwell, was the leader of the Scottish arm of the gang and was involved in the trafficking of heroin and cocaine.

He is the last member of the gang to be arrested, six others have been arrested.

Wright worked with Terence Earle, 50, who was sentenced to more than 16 years and his cousin Stephen Earle, 52, who was sentenced to 11 years and four months in August.

He used the encrypted telephone network EncroChat using the handle “Jack Nicklaus” to find drugs, check supply routes and find customers.

The NCA investigation forms part of Operation Venetic, the UK-led response to the removal of the EncroChat service in July 2020.

Wright pleaded guilty to five drug charges at Liverpool Crown Court last month.

He set up an amphetamine lab in Motherwell in March 2020 during the first Covid lockdown. It was capable of producing 1,000kg of amphetamine.

He also helped ship at least 20kg of cocaine and 10kg of heroin between Motherwell and Merseyside.

NCA branch commander, Cat McHugh, said: “Wright's case shows that criminals who seek refuge in other countries are not immune from the reach of law enforcement.

“His conviction means we have completely dismantled this organized crime group, which poses a huge risk to communities in Scotland and Merseyside, the drugs they sell help fuel violence and exploitation.”