Greedy trucker Thomas Maher worked for rival criminals in the Kinahan and Hutch mobs and had his illegal transport network back on the road delivering drugs, guns and cash within weeks of getting caught up in the probe into the death of 39 immigrants in the back of a container he once owned.
Maher was jailed this week for 14 years after pleading guilty to transporting cocaine from the Netherlands to Ireland via the UK and laundering cash.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that he had used the encrypted phone network Encrochat to plan his black market transport for gangs across Ireland.
Officers say he would stop at nothing to keep the flow of cocaine, heroin and weapons flooding into Ireland even though he was caught up in the investigation into the death of the tragic Vietnamese workers who suffocated on their journey to a new life.
Thomas Maher was jailed having admitted to conspiracy to commit crime abroad
The haulage boss ran the Europe-wide drug ring from living room in Warrington
He helped traffic £1.5m of cocaine and launder £1m from Netherlands to Ireland
Maher was previously arrested following the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants
He was never charged in connection with the deaths in Essex in October 2019
Huge wealth on display triggered investigation into Colombian cartel-linked criminal
Thomas Maher made huge sums of money as he linked gangs across the world to cocaine, heroin and cash
Updated
Underworld transport boss Thomas Maher s driveway was often lined with flash cars. Image: NCA (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
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Haulage boss who took flashy trips to Dubai and New York jailed over role in coke and cash transportation
Thomas Maher plead guilty to four counts of conspiracy to commit a crime abroad.
Updated
Thomas Maher has been jailed for 14 years and eight months (Image: PA)
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Lorry boss in global drugs trade brought down by discovery of 39 bodies
Thomas Maher was a key cog in the smuggling of up to £1.5m in cocaine across the globe
Updated
Wealthy haulage boss Thomas Maher was today jailed (Image: PA)
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