Walter Douglas
Encyclopedia
Walter Douglas is a Scottish drug trafficker and organized crime figure, dubbed the Tartan Pimpernel by the press, who is one of the richest in the United Kingdom
with an estimated worth of £20 million. Wanted in at least three countries on drug trafficking and gun running charges as of 2003, Douglas had ties to numerous international criminal organizations in Europe and North America as the head of the Delta crime syndicate.
into the United Kingdom
from Morocco
, Spain
and Holland. An associate of Brian Doran, he used a plants and car exporting business as a front for his activities. He was also questioned by police in the 1990 murder of Charlie Wilson, a member of the Great Train Robbery.
on board. One of the largest narcotics investigations in the history of the Netherlands, which included the Dutch IRT
, the British Customs Service and the American Drug Enforcement Agency, the reported street value of the seized cannabis was estimated at £60 million.
Arrested by Dutch police at his farmhouse at Abcoude
, he and his three partners tried at Utrecht
High Court and accused of smuggling cannabis, ecstasy
and cocaine
. Douglas was also scheduled to be tried in Scotland, the Crown Office
in Edinburgh
filing for extradition only hours of his arrest. With testimony by agents from the Holland, Denmark, Spain and the United States, the prosecution accused Douglas and the others of earning 100 million from drug trafficking operations during the last three years. Douglas was eventually sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined 250,000 on March 29, 1994.
However, while his lawyer attempted to appeal the case claiming Dutch police used illegal phone taps to make the arrest, he fled the country while out on bail. He was listed on Interpol
's most wanted list and an international warrant
was issued for his arrest, however he managed to evade authorities for over 12 years.
. Two years later, in May 1998, Douglas was taken into custody by police on suspicion of laundering an estimated £150 million, he was imprisoned in the notorious Alhaurin de le Torre prison in Malaga, Spain. However, he was eventually released due to legal problems extraditing Douglas to Holland for trial.
In 2003, he was placed in Russia
working with the Russian Mafia
. In early 2005, he fled to South Africa
with £4 million after a failed drug deal with the Russian mobsters in Latvia
. During this time, he hired two Latvian bodyguards believing Colombian drug cartels might also pursuing him. In July 2005, he purchased a 75 ft.-Sunseeker Predator
and made his escape from the country reportedly sailing north for Spain. Worth £1.5 million, the yacht was fitted with high-tech radar and twin 1,200 hp engines keeping ahead of the Russian Mafia and Colombian drug cartels.
using a false passport.
Arrested by a warrant issued by a judge in Marbella, Spain, Douglas was flown to the mainland for further questioning by authorities. As he had purchased the passport in Holland, the charges against him were dropped and Douglas was eventually released. He did remain out on bail in regards to money laundering charges agreeing to report to the court on a regular basis.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with an estimated worth of £20 million. Wanted in at least three countries on drug trafficking and gun running charges as of 2003, Douglas had ties to numerous international criminal organizations in Europe and North America as the head of the Delta crime syndicate.
Early life
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Douglas was a former milkman and petty thief before becoming involved in drug trafficking and money laundering with the Delta crime syndicate during the 1980s and early 1990s earning millions smuggling cannabisCannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
into the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, 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 Holland. An associate of Brian Doran, he used a plants and car exporting business as a front for his activities. He was also questioned by police in the 1990 murder of Charlie Wilson, a member of the Great Train Robbery.
Arrest in Holland
In early 1994, he and his three partners were arrested by Dutch authorities after their freighter, the Britannia Gezel, was boarded by British customs officers who discovered over 18 tons of hashishHashish
Hashish is a cannabis preparation composed of compressed stalked resin glands, called trichomes, collected from the unfertilized buds of the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves...
on board. One of the largest narcotics investigations in the history of the Netherlands, which included the Dutch IRT
IRT
IRT may refer to:* Immunoreactive trypsinogen, used as a newborn screening test for cystic fibrosis* Indiana Repertory Theatre, a theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, the British Customs Service and the American Drug Enforcement Agency, the reported street value of the seized cannabis was estimated at £60 million.
Arrested by Dutch police at his farmhouse at Abcoude
Abcoude
Abcoude is a town and former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. Since 2011 it has made part of the municipality of De Ronde Venen.- Population centres :...
, he and his three partners tried at Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
High Court and accused of smuggling cannabis, ecstasy
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
MDMA is an entactogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of drugs. In popular culture, MDMA has become widely known as "ecstasy" , usually referring to its street pill form, although this term may also include the presence of possible adulterants...
and cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. Douglas was also scheduled to be tried in Scotland, the Crown Office
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service provides the independent public prosecution service for Scotland, and is a Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government. The department is headed by Her Majesty's Lord Advocate, who under the Scottish legal system is responsible for prosecution,...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
filing for extradition only hours of his arrest. With testimony by agents from the Holland, Denmark, Spain and the United States, the prosecution accused Douglas and the others of earning 100 million from drug trafficking operations during the last three years. Douglas was eventually sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined 250,000 on March 29, 1994.
However, while his lawyer attempted to appeal the case claiming Dutch police used illegal phone taps to make the arrest, he fled the country while out on bail. He was listed on Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
's most wanted list and an international warrant
Arrest warrant
An arrest warrant is a warrant issued by and on behalf of the state, which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual.-Canada:Arrest warrants are issued by a judge or justice of the peace under the Criminal Code of Canada....
was issued for his arrest, however he managed to evade authorities for over 12 years.
On the run
Douglas was soon discovered by authorities living in southern Spain's Costa del Crime under the name Terence Tomkins within several years. Spanish custom officials made several failed attempts to take him into custody following a two-year international sting operation when they raided the wrong house in FuengirolaFuengirola
Fuengirola, in ancient times known as Suel and then Suhayl, is a large town and municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is a major tourist resort, with more than 8 km of beaches, and home to a mediæval Moorish fortress...
. Two years later, in May 1998, Douglas was taken into custody by police on suspicion of laundering an estimated £150 million, he was imprisoned in the notorious Alhaurin de le Torre prison in Malaga, Spain. However, he was eventually released due to legal problems extraditing Douglas to Holland for trial.
In 2003, he was placed in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
working with the Russian Mafia
Russian Mafia
The Russian Mafia is a name applied to organized crime syndicates in Russia and Ukraine. The mafia in various countries take the name of the country, as for example the Ukrainian mafia....
. In early 2005, he fled to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with £4 million after a failed drug deal with the Russian mobsters in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
. During this time, he hired two Latvian bodyguards believing Colombian drug cartels might also pursuing him. In July 2005, he purchased a 75 ft.-Sunseeker Predator
Sunseeker
Sunseeker International, is a UK luxury motor yacht manufacturer. Their headquarters and assembly factory is in Poole Harbour, at Poole in Dorset, England. The company has been making motor boats since 1979.-Profile:...
and made his escape from the country reportedly sailing north for Spain. Worth £1.5 million, the yacht was fitted with high-tech radar and twin 1,200 hp engines keeping ahead of the Russian Mafia and Colombian drug cartels.
Recent years
In September 2006, he was caught while attempting to enter IbizaIbiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
using a false passport.
Arrested by a warrant issued by a judge in Marbella, Spain, Douglas was flown to the mainland for further questioning by authorities. As he had purchased the passport in Holland, the charges against him were dropped and Douglas was eventually released. He did remain out on bail in regards to money laundering charges agreeing to report to the court on a regular basis.