'Drug trafficker' Francis Coggins snared in the Netherlands amid National Crime Agency probe
Alleged international drug smuggle r Francis Coggins has been arrested in Europe. He was detained in a Dutch coastal town amid a National Crime Agency probe.
The 60-year-old was snared by officers from the Dutch National Police force outside a residential property in Zandvoort yesterday, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
He was taken into custody after ongoing work between the National Crime Agency (NCA), the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU) and the Dutch National Police.
Coggins, of Stockbridge Village, Merseyside, was wanted by the NWROCU on a trade and cooperation agreement warrant for allegedly smuggling heroin and cocaine.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
He appeared at court in Amsterdam today to begin the process of extradition to the UK and he was remanded to appear again on a date to be confirmed.
Detective superintendent Zoe Russo from the NWROCU said: "This arrest demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that individuals wanted for serious offences, whether in the UK or abroad, are brought to justice.
"We work closely with international law enforcement partners to track down and apprehend fugitives, no matter where they try to hide. The message is clear: if you are wanted, we will find you."
Gill Duggan, head of Europe at the NCA said: " The agency has been working extensively with the ROCU and our international partners to trace Coggins and return him to the UK.
"It does not matter where fugitives go. The agency's reach and strong relationships with international partners mean we will always tenaciously pursue those wanted by law enforcement."
Coggins' brother Vincent, known as "the headmaster" to signify his role at the top of the Huyton Firm organised crime group, was jailed and convicted as part of the NWROCU's probe codenamed "Operation SubZero".
Liverpool Echo reports that the arrests of many members of the organised crime syndicate resulted in some of the first EncroChat convictions in the UK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Llandeilo abuser guilty of assaulting and stalking partner
Swansea Crown Court heard Alan Griffiths and the victim had been in a relationship, but this ended around October last year. Griffiths, from Pontypridd, was arrested on suspicion of stalking the victim in February, and was bailed on the condition that he didn't contact her again. However, the court heard that the victim noticed his van in the car park at Co-op in Llandeilo in March. She drove around the block in an attempt to avoid coming across him, but when she passed him on the main road he 'glared at her' and 'looked angry'. That evening, the victim received a message from Griffiths saying that he was back home safe and wishing her a happy birthday. She didn't reply, and he then sent another message saying: "I know you think I don't love you, but I do." Griffiths then sent three more messages, one of which read: "Expect the police in the morning." Four days later, a farmer called the victim saying someone had told him that her dogs had been involved in an incident with his sheep. This wasn't the case, the prosecution confirmed. She was later shown a screenshot of a post Griffiths made on Facebook where he posted a picture of dead sheep and another of the victim's dogs, along with text 'insinuating her dogs were involved'. The victim received a phone call on WhatsApp from the defendant on March 26 – which she also didn't answer. She also reported seeing Griffiths' van in the Llandeilo area several times, including seeing him pulling out of Llandeilo services after her on May 1. Griffiths was further charged with common assault from when the couple were still together. It was alleged that – at a point in June or July last year – the victim was woken up by the defendant and could smell alcohol on him. She left the room but he followed her, causing her to run out of the house. Griffiths then locked her outside in just her underwear, and turned off all the lights. She went to sleep in the stable, but was woken up by Griffiths shining a torch in her face. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back inside the house. 'During this whole period, he has maintained the hold on her hair,' the prosecution said. Griffiths, of Poplar Road in Rhydyfelin, denied stalking and battery, but was found guilty at Llanelli Magistrates' Court on July 4. The 46-year-old had six previous convictions for 13 offences, and was subject to a suspended sentence at the time for assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the same victim. Griffiths, representing himself, maintained that he didn't commit the offences which made up the stalking charge. When asked by Recorder Simon Stephenson about the terms of a restraining order, Griffiths said he worked as a gardener in the Llandeilo area, but accepted he would be banned from contacting or posting about the victim. Griffiths was jailed for a total of 16 months, including the activation of eight months of his suspended sentence. He was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order.
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Caldicot predator sent sexual messages and videos to 'girls'
Neil Rockliffe messaged 'Freya' on the Just Say Hi online dating app on March 6. The account was being run by a member of a paedophile hunter group, and they told Rockliffe they were aged 13. Despite this, they exchanged numbers and the conversation moved to WhatsApp. During the conversation, Rockliffe referenced that what he was doing was 'illegal' and that he was 'too old for her'. However he exchanged pictures with 'Freya', and soon turned the conversation sexual – including asking her what she was wearing and if she watched porn. Rockliffe then began instructing 'Freya' how to masturbate, and asked her to send pictures of her doing so – which she refused to do. 'It seems you saw yourself as some sort of instructor or teacher,' said Judge Lucy Crowther. Over the next few days his messages became more explicit, as he told the decoy he wanted to have sex with them. He also sent explicit pictures and videos. In one message Rockliffe referenced her dad and asked if she wanted to sex with a man older than her father, before adding: 'I want to be your first'. He asked the decoy about going to a hotel with him to have sex, but said she would have to say she was his daughter if questioned by members of staff. He also asked whether the 'girl' would be the first in her class to have sex. Rockliffe asked 'Freya' if she had any friends she wanted to join them, and she gave him the number of 'Sophie' – another decoy account. The defendant started a group chat with both decoys – and 'Sophie' identified she was 12 years old. Rockliffe sent messages again referring to meeting in a hotel for sex, asking the 'girls' for photographs, and sending explicit images. The messages were passed on to the police, and a paedophile hunter group attended the defendant's address. Neil Rockliffe sent sexual messages to who he thought were two young girls. (Image: Gwent Police) In interview, Rockliffe said he believed 'Freya' was 18. He accepted sending explicit messages, pictures of his penis and a video of him masturbating, but said he was 'drunk' and 'had no intention to meet' as 'it was just talk'. However, he later admitted two offences each of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, attempting to incite a child to do a sexual act, and attempting to cause a child to watch a sexual act. Rockliffe, 55, of Birbeck Road, had no previous convictions. 'Clearly the best mitigation available to this defendant is the fact that he pleaded guilty,' said Martha Smith-Higgins, appearing for Rockliffe. She acknowledged there was 'very little' she could say to mitigate the offences, but added he was 'drinking very heavily' at the time – sometimes up to 2.5 litres of vodka a day. The defendant had been on an 18+ dating website so did not seek out children, she said, but Rockliffe accepted what he did after he found out the purported ages of the 'girls' was 'obscene'. Judge Crowther jailed Rockliffe for three years and one month. A hearing will be held on August 19 to consider an application for a sexual harm prevention order.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Dear Coleen: 'I'm scared of leaving my daughter alone with her mean granny'
"She's shown little interest in her since she was born and is always 'too busy' to spend proper time with her." Dear Coleen MY mother-in-law is quite a fearsome person and I do my best to avoid her as much as possible. She's patronising and it's obvious she's not keen on me and doesn't think I'm good enough for her son. She runs a party planning business and was short-staffed once, so I helped her out against my better judgment. It was awful. She was so mean to me and kept telling me off in front of the other staff and criticising me. I can cope with what she throws at me, but she's also quite mean to our daughter, who's six. She's shown little interest in her since she was born and is always 'too busy' to spend proper time with her. As a result, my daughter doesn't know her well, she doesn't like her much and I'd go so far as to say she's a bit scared of her. She's cried when my mother-in-law has tried to hug her, which was embarrassing. The problem now is my husband has arranged a romantic night away for us – which I'm thrilled about – but he's asked his mum to babysit. I'm worried about leaving my daughter with her, but what can I say without causing bad feelings? What would you do? Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Coleen says If it were me, I wouldn't leave her with your mother-in-law. I'd ask a friend or another relative– someone your daughter knows really well and feels safe with. Be honest with your husband and explain that his mum hasn't put in the effort with your daughter and she's a bit afraid of her so, until that changes, you don't want her to babysit. Explain to him you're really looking forward to this night away, but you won't enjoy it if you're worried about your daughter. Imagine telling your daughter she's staying with Granny for a night and leaving her crying! As things stand, I don't think it will work for you, your mother-in-law or daughter. The good thing is, it might force your husband to talk to his mum about her role in her life. As for you, stop putting yourself out for your mother- in-law. You don't have to cause rows or stop your husband from seeing her, but you don't have to work for her if she's short staffed and be told off like a naughty child. It sounds as if she likes to be in control and hasn't got over the fact that her son loves someone else.
