Inside lifestyle of ‘The Fat Man’ drugs kingpin who splashed cash on luxury cars & Rolex watches as cops close the net
A DRUGS kingpin nicknamed ‘The Fat Man’ has been ordered to pay back £630,000 by a judge after he splashed dirty cash on luxury cars and Rolex watches.
Thomas Maher, 42, used a haulage business as cover to move drugs and money and was caged for 14 years and eight months in December 2020.
During a seven month surveillance operation officers from the National Crime Agency, known as the UK’s FBI, watched Maher meet with criminals at hotels and restaurants across the North West region.
Maher came onto the NCA’s radar after he was arrested as part of the investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a lorry in Purfleet in October 2019.
The tractor unit involved had at one point been owned by Maher.
Maher was released with no further action taken by Essex Police, but an NCA financial investigation revealed that despite him and his wife being on less than minimum wage for tax purposes, they lived a luxurious lifestyle.
During their investigation officers realised that Maher was involved in the trafficking of cocaine from the Netherlands to the UK and Ireland.
The NCA also realised Maher was a huge fan of fast food, with a penchant for gourmet burgers delivered to his front door.
The NCA raided his Warrington home on June 13, 2020, fter receiving intelligence that he planned to flee the UK.
Maher had a collection of flash cars on the drive including an SUV and an American style muscle car.
The walls of his home were adorned with garish art. Maher, who had a collection of watches and gold ingots from Dubai, now has three months to pay or faces an extra six years in jail.
Maher was snared by the NCA due to his use of the Encrypted phone network known as EncroChat.
Police in France managed to hack the network, which provided forces across Europe with access to messages between professional criminals.
The NCA soon realised that Maher was a facilitator for a powerful Irish crime group with international connections.
Maher sent messages which revealed he was involved in moving drugs around the world, and discussed competition he faced from rival gangs.
Maher, who lived in the suburbs of Warrington, was also charging a commission for his involvement in the movement of dirty cash.
Maher also sent messages which revealed he wanted Hughes attacked within the prison system for embroiling him in the Purfleet tragedy.
The NCA acted on the messages to ensure Hughes was made safe.
Maher was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison in December 2020 for drugs and money laundering.
Maher, originally from County Offaly, had been charged with conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm in relation to the messages he sent about Hughes.
He denied the charge and Liverpool Crown court ruled for the charge to lay on file.
The NCA’s Head of Asset Denial, Rob Burgess, said: “This significant result demonstrates the agency’s ability to recover criminal assets, and prevent criminals from benefiting from their wrongdoing.
