Walter Douglas

Walter Douglas (born 1961) 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. [ cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/underworld_rich_list/underworld_drugs.shtml |title=Underworld Rich List: Drug Barons |accessdate=2006-12-21 |author=Rowe, Raphael |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2004-05-17 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=BBC Three |pages= |language= |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050115214536/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/tv/underworld_rich_list/underworld_drugs.shtml
archivedate=2005-01-15 |quote= ] 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, Scott 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 cannabis into the United Kingdom from Morocco, Spain and Holland. [ "Time Runs Out For Scotland's Cosa Nostra; New Extradition Treaty With Spain". Sunday Mail. 25 Mar 2001 ] [ "Too Big for Scotland; The Gangsters Who Made Fortunes Here Before Fleeing Abroad To Live In A Lap Of Luxury". Sunday Mail. 09 Feb 03 ] 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 1987 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 hashish 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. [ "Give Him 5 Years; And Drug Charge Scot Faces More; Scots Drug Smuggler To Face More Charges". Daily Record. 18 Mar 1994 ] Douglas was eventually sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined 250,000 on March 29, 1994. [ "Dutch jail Scot for part in drugs ring". The Scotsman. 30 Mar 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.

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 Fuengirola. [ "Drug Baron Fools Cops; Scots drug baron Walter Scot gives Spanish cops the slip". Sunday Mail. 29 Dec 1996 ] [ "Smuggler evades Spanish police". The Herald. 30 Dec 1996 ] 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. [ "Scot Free! They seek him there...drugs Tartan Pimpernel walks from Spanish jail; Drugs Baron Walter Douglas escapes a jail sentence". Sunday Mail. 06 Sep 1998 ]

In 2003, he was placed in Russia working with the Russian Mafia. [ "Most Wanted". Sunday Mail. 01 Nov 2003 ] 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. [ "Walt's Off With £4 Dug Loot". News of the World. 13 Mar 2005 ] 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. [ "Yacht A Gataway!". News of the World. 17 July 2005 ]

Recent years

In September 2006, he was caught while attempting to enter Ibiza using a false passport. [ "On the run - for 12 years". Evening Times. 18 Sep 2006 ] [ "Scots crime boss held". The Herald. 18 Sep 2006 ]

Arrested by a warrant issued by a judge in Marbella, Spain, Douglas was flown to the mainland for further questioning by authorities. [ "Mr. Big is nabbed in Spain". The Sun. 18 Sep 2006 ] As he had purchased the passport in Holland, Walters the charges against him were dropped and 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. [ "Mobster Free After Warrant Blunders". Sunday Mail. 01 Oct 2006 ]

References