Insider lifestyle of drug lord ‘The Fat Man’ who has been spending money on luxury cars and Rolex watches while the police shut down the internet
A drug lord nicknamed ‘The Fat Man’ has been ordered by a judge to pay back £630,000 after spending dirty money on luxury cars and Rolex watches.
Thomas Maher, 42, used a transport company as a cover to transport drugs and money and was jailed for 14 years and eight months in December 2020.
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During a seven-month surveillance operation, officers from the National Crime Agency, known as Britain’s FBI, observed Maher meeting with criminals in hotels and restaurants across the North West.
Maher came on the NCA’s radar after he was arrested as part of the investigation into the death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a truck in Purfleet in October 2019.
The truck in question once belonged to Maher.
Maher was released without further action from Essex Police. However, a financial investigation by the NCA revealed that despite being paid less than minimum wage for tax reasons, he and his wife lived a luxurious lifestyle.
During their investigation, officers determined that Maher was involved in trafficking cocaine from the Netherlands to Britain and Ireland.
The NCA also recognized that Maher was a big fan of fast food and had a penchant for gourmet burgers delivered to his door.
The NCA searched his home in Warrington on June 13, 2020 after receiving information that he was attempting to flee the UK.
Maher brought a collection of fancy cars for the trip, including an SUV and an American-style muscle car.
The walls of his house were adorned with garish art. Maher, who owned a watch and gold bullion collection from Dubai, must now pay three months or face an additional six years in prison.
Maher was trapped by the NCA for his use of the EncroChat encrypted phone network.
Police in France managed to hack the network, giving emergency services across Europe access to messages between professional criminals.
The NCA soon realized that Maher was a supporter of a powerful Irish crime group with international connections.
Maher sent messages revealing his involvement in transporting drugs around the world and spoke about the competition he faced from rival gangs.
Maher, who lived in the Warrington suburb, also claimed a commission for his involvement in the dirty cash movement.
Maher also sent messages showing that he wanted Hughes attacked in the prison system for implicating him in the Purfleet tragedy.
The NCA responded to the news to ensure Hughes was safe.
Maher was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison in December 2020 on drug and money laundering charges.
Maher, originally from County Offaly, had been charged with conspiracy to cause aggravated assault in connection with the messages he sent about Hughes.
He dismissed the charges and Liverpool Crown Court ruled that the charges could be dismissed.
Rob Burgess, NCA’s Head of Denial of Assets, said: “This significant result demonstrates the agency’s ability to recover criminal assets and prevent criminals from profiting from their misconduct.”
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