Fugitive Scots drug baron William Blackledge has been let off by US drug cops after evading seize for greater than 30 years – however remains to be a wished man in Canada.
Blackledge, now 87 and believed to be residing in Cyprus, rose by means of the ranks to grow to be a significant determine within the world drug commerce, working with the Cali crime cartel towards rival Pablo Escobar ’s gang to flood the US with cocaine. Crime gang lieutenant Blackledge, initially from Lanarkshire, was placed on Interpol’s most wished listing in 2005 – which made him the world’s most wished pensioner.
However now in a dramatic twist, the US authorities have eliminated him from their wished listing and determined to now not pursue a prosecution towards him. Nonetheless, he's nonetheless being hunted by Canada.
Blackledge has been wished within the US since 1989 for a plan to flood the US and Canada with tens of millions of kilos of Colombian cocaine and hashish. A supply on the US Marshal’s workplace, who tracked Blackledge all over the world, confirmed he was now not being pursued, saying: “This could occur when fugitives have escaped justice so lengthy that every one the witnesses die or brokers retire.
“Blackledge managed to remain one step forward of us at each flip and it was irritating. There was discuss he was being tipped off each time we acquired near him.
We nearly had him in France and England and we knew he was making journeys to Scotland to see his mom earlier than she died.”
Nonetheless, the supply added: “Canada hasn’t dropped their curiosity in him and perhaps the USA clearing him will lure him out of hiding.”
Writer Peter Polack, whose subsequent e-book Fugitive and Free will function Blackledge’s escape from justice, mentioned: “It's stunning that the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) and US Marshall’s workplace might catch drug lords like El Chapo however not Scottish octogenarian Billy Blackledge.
“Maybe worldwide fugitives can take hope from this growth, supplied they attain previous age. The lesson could also be that when you flee to Cyprus in your dotage, you possibly can escape sanction.”
American authorities mentioned the Drug Enforcement Company believed Blackledge resides in Cyprus and have determined that, given his age, there isn't any “benefit” in pursuing him and gang members any extra.
A discover of dismissal, lodged in a courtroom in Gainsville, Florida, acknowledged: “In late 1989 and early 1990, a number of indictments have been returned towards greater than 15 defendants charging that the defendants engaged in a seamless prison enterprise to conspire to import into the USA 5 kilograms or extra cocaine and 1000 kilograms or extra of marijuana, and conspiracy to own these substances with intent to distribute.
“The DEA advises that it believes it has situated Mr Blackledge and that he's residing in Cyprus. Primarily based on discussions with the DEA in regards to the age of the case, the unavailability of witnesses, and the retirement of a number of case brokers, even when regulation enforcement have been in a position to find and safe Mr Blackledge and the opposite fugitive defendants, the Authorities has concluded that there isn't any affordable chance of a profitable prosecution of this case and requests that the fees towards the listed defendants be dismissed.”
The order was granted by a choose – however the Day by day File understands Canadian authorities nonetheless need him. In Canada, Blackedge joined forces with the Hells Angels within the mid-80s, when Montreal was within the grip of a gangland warfare.
Frank “Dunie” Ryan, chief of the West Finish Gang, was murdered in 1984. His successor, Allan “the Weasel” Ross – who died aged 74 in a US jail in 2018 – employed two Hells Angels to kill Ryan’s killers. The suspected killers died after a bomb was planted of their flat.
The biker gang was then launched to Blackledge. He helped the Angels import tens of millions of kilos value of cocaine from South America utilizing his hyperlinks to the Cali Cartel.
Even after he fled to Florida, Blackledge continued to behave as a go-between for the Angels and the Colombians. When his previous affiliate the Weasel was arrested in 1991, the Canadian Mounties hoped it might cause them to Blackledge.
In his absence, Canadian authorities indicted him for drug offences. He faces as much as 60 years in jail if caught and convicted.
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