Brian Brendan Wright
Encyclopedia
Brian Brendan "The Monocle" Wright is an Irish criminal involved in fixing horse races by doping more than 20 race horses in 1990 as well as a drug trafficker who is estimated to have smuggled 3 tons of cocaine into Great Britain over a period of two years. Originally based in Britain, he had been out of the country when authorities began arresting members of his organization (including his own son, Brian Jr and former son in law, Paul Shannon) as the result of a six year investigation resulting from the capture of a converted fishing trawler, the Sea Mist, after Irish customs officials discovered 599 kg of cocaine while docked at Cork, Ireland
in September 1996.
Nicknamed "The Milkman" because he always delivered.
Eventually relocating to northern Cyprus
, he purchased a £300,000 villa near occupied Lapithos
in the name of a Turkish Cypriot friend and, by 1998, his organization operated freely as the northern Cyprus government is recognized only by Turkey
and thus has no extradition treaties with any other country.
In 2002, British authorities announced the capture of a top member of his organization, South African drug trafficker Hilton John Van Staden, who eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle drugs into the country with customs officials claiming the destruction of Wright's organization.
In April 2005, he was arrested by police in Sotogrande
, Spain
and on April 2, 2007 he was found guilty of running one of the most sophisticated and successful cocaine smuggling organisations in the world.
On April 2, 2007, after an 11 year investigation, he was found guilty of running an international cocaine smuggling empire. The following day he was sentenced to 30 years and according to his lawyers, had accepted he will die in jail. Various press outlets noted that celebrity comedian Jim Davidson
was called upon during the trial as one of his character witnesses, which drew numerous satirical and disparaging comments regarding the quality of the company the convicted drug dealer kept.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in September 1996.
Nicknamed "The Milkman" because he always delivered.
Eventually relocating to northern Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, he purchased a £300,000 villa near occupied Lapithos
Lapithos
Lapithos or Lapethos is a town of Kyrenia District on the northern coast of Cyprus. According to Strabo, the settlement was founded by Spartans. In Assyrian inscriptions, Lapithos is mentioned as one of the eleven Cypriot kingdoms. During the Persian rule, Lapithos was settled by Phoenicians...
in the name of a Turkish Cypriot friend and, by 1998, his organization operated freely as the northern Cyprus government is recognized only by Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and thus has no extradition treaties with any other country.
In 2002, British authorities announced the capture of a top member of his organization, South African drug trafficker Hilton John Van Staden, who eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggle drugs into the country with customs officials claiming the destruction of Wright's organization.
In April 2005, he was arrested by police in Sotogrande
Sotogrande
Sotogrande is the largest resort and privately owned residential development in Andalusia. A large part of the resort is administered by NH Hotels and it is considered part of the NH World...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and on April 2, 2007 he was found guilty of running one of the most sophisticated and successful cocaine smuggling organisations in the world.
On April 2, 2007, after an 11 year investigation, he was found guilty of running an international cocaine smuggling empire. The following day he was sentenced to 30 years and according to his lawyers, had accepted he will die in jail. Various press outlets noted that celebrity comedian Jim Davidson
Jim Davidson
Jim Davidson may refer to:* Jim Davidson , American actor* Jim Davidson , American football player, played for Ohio State Buckeyes and drafted by the Buffalo Bills* Jim Davidson , Australia author, see Meanjin...
was called upon during the trial as one of his character witnesses, which drew numerous satirical and disparaging comments regarding the quality of the company the convicted drug dealer kept.