Gangster
By BBC Radio 5 Live
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Category: True Crime
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Rate for this podcast
Subscribers: 393
Reviews: 3
Episodes: 98
Xavier
Mar 29, 2026
Louise
Dec 3, 2024
Livvy's investigations are always thorough and interesting, I love her podcasts and look forward to them. would definitely recommend
beejeezuz
Jul 24, 2022
super informative and we'll put together podcast
Description
In the 1990s, Brian Brendan Wright, known as The Milkman, became one of the UK's most significant cocaine traffickers. His operation stretched from coca labs in Colombia, through Venezuelan jungles and Caribbean sea routes, to quiet marinas and racecourses in Britain. Bulk shipments crossed the Atlantic by sailboat. Cartel brokers negotiated deals in Miami. Public phone boxes carried coded conversations.
At home, Wright cultivated a different image: racehorse owner, gambler, a familiar face in elite restaurants and private boxes. Behind that public life sat an organisation moving hundreds of kilos of cocaine at a time. Couriers, skippers and middlemen handled the risk. Cocaine flooded British streets while its organiser remained largely unseen.
The investigation to dismantle the network lasted 11 years. Customs officers, DEA agents and police forces across multiple countries tracked phone numbers, cracked codes, followed boats and recruited insiders. Arrests reached from Colombian suppliers to UK logistics men. As pressure mounted, Wright fled abroad and became one of Britain's most wanted fugitives.
Gangster: The Story of the Milkman follows the rise and fall of a transatlantic cocaine empire — the smugglers who ran it, the officers who pursued it, and the human cost left in its wake.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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The Story of The Milkman: 6. The Catch
|
Sep 10, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: 5. The Long Run
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Sep 03, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: 4. The Fix Is In
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Aug 27, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: 3. Operation Extend
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Aug 20, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: 2. Cocaine by the Sea
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Aug 13, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: 1. The Sea Mist
|
Aug 07, 2026 |
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The Story of The Milkman: Trailer
|
Aug 03, 2026 |
|
The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 6. The White Cliffs of Dover
|
Jun 11, 2026 |
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The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 5. The Magic Balloon Gang
|
Jun 04, 2026 |
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The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 4. The Slip-Up
|
May 28, 2026 |
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The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 3. The Land of Milk and Honey
|
May 21, 2026 |
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The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 2. The Hate Factory
|
May 14, 2026 |
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The Story of Ronnie Biggs: 1. The Big One
|
May 07, 2026 |
|
The Story of Ronnie Biggs: Trailer
|
May 04, 2026 |
|
The Story of Georgie Pai: 6. Losing Face
|
Apr 09, 2026 |
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The Story of Georgie Pai: 5. Video Wars
|
Apr 02, 2026 |
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The Story of Georgie Pai: 4. The Northern Powerhouse
|
Mar 27, 2026 |
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The Story of Georgie Pai: 3. Sleeping Tiger
|
Mar 20, 2026 |
|
The Story of Georgie Pai: 2. The Hong Kong Connection
|
Mar 13, 2026 |
|
The Story of Georgie Pai: 1. Enter The Godfather
|
Mar 06, 2026 |
|
The Story of Georgie Pai: Trailer
|
Mar 04, 2026 |
|
Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 6. Starcrossed Lovers
|
Dec 19, 2025 |
|
Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 5. “Love You”
|
Dec 12, 2025 |
|
Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 4. Illegal Highs
|
Dec 05, 2025 |
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Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 3. Just This Once
|
Nov 28, 2025 |
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Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 2. The Boy From Bradford
|
Nov 21, 2025 |
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Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: 1. When Amy Met Joe
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Nov 14, 2025 |
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Sex, Drugs & Cell Block Parties: Trailer
|
Nov 10, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 6. Til Death Do Us Part
|
Sep 12, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 5. Spilt Milk
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Sep 05, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 4. The Two Minute Rule
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Aug 29, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 3. Cops and Robbers
|
Aug 22, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 2. A Widow's Vow
|
Aug 15, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: 1. Spinning the Web
|
Aug 08, 2025 |
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The Story of the Black Widow: Trailer
|
Aug 01, 2025 |
|
The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 7. Update: Murder in Costa Del Sol
|
Jul 25, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 6. End Game
|
Apr 11, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 5. Going Underground
|
Apr 04, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 4. Collateral Damage
|
Mar 28, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 3. Riots and Reputations
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Mar 21, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 2. The Darkest Night
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Mar 14, 2025 |
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Hooligans: 1. A Different Ball Game
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Mar 07, 2025 |
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Hooligans: Trailer
|
Mar 04, 2025 |
|
The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 6. The Glasgow Smile
|
Dec 31, 2024 |
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The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 5. The Pushchair Assassin
|
Dec 24, 2024 |
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The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 4. The Digger
|
Dec 17, 2024 |
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The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 3. Pay the Piper
|
Dec 10, 2024 |
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The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 2. Ollie and Mr Green
|
Dec 03, 2024 |
|
The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: 1. King of the Jungle
|
Dec 03, 2024 |
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The Story of the Daniels and the Lyons: Trailer
|
Dec 02, 2024 |
|
The Story of Viv Graham: 6. Legacy
|
Jun 28, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: 5. Three Shots
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Jun 21, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: 4. Door Wars
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Jun 14, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: 3. Ecstasy and Enemies
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Jun 07, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: 2. Whack ’Em and Catch ’Em
|
May 31, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: 1. King of the Ring
|
May 24, 2024 |
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The Story of Viv Graham: Trailer
|
May 20, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 6. Final Reckoning
|
Feb 11, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 5. Line of Duty
|
Feb 04, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 4. Who Built EncroChat?
|
Jan 28, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 3. In Suburbia
|
Jan 21, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 2. Threat to Life
|
Jan 14, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: 1. The Hack
|
Jan 07, 2024 |
|
Catching the Kingpins: Trailer
|
Jan 03, 2024 |
|
The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 6. Breaking Bad
|
Dec 08, 2023 |
|
The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 5. Judgement Day
|
Dec 01, 2023 |
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The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 4. The Murder of Innocents
|
Nov 24, 2023 |
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The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 3. Fall Out
|
Nov 17, 2023 |
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The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 2. The Yardies
|
Nov 10, 2023 |
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The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: 1. Out of the Ashes
|
Nov 03, 2023 |
|
The Story of the Burger Bar Boys: Trailer
|
Oct 27, 2023 |
|
Killing Death Row: 6. Living and Dying
|
Oct 27, 2023 |
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Killing Death Row: 5. What’s the Cost?
|
Oct 27, 2023 |
|
Killing Death Row: 4. Who Cares if it Hurts?
|
Oct 20, 2023 |
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Killing Death Row: 3. Inside the Chamber
|
Oct 20, 2023 |
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Killing Death Row: 2. How to Kill the Killers
|
Oct 13, 2023 |
|
Killing Death Row: 1. The Hunt for Lethal Drugs
|
Oct 13, 2023 |
|
Killing Death Row: Trailer
|
Oct 06, 2023 |
|
The Story of John Palmer: 6. The Hitman
|
Mar 08, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: 5. Self Defence
|
Mar 01, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: 4. Chateau Palmer
|
Feb 22, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: 3. The Clumpers
|
Feb 15, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: 2. London Calling
|
Feb 08, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: Trailer
|
Feb 01, 2023 |
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The Story of John Palmer: 1. Palmer Nova
|
Feb 01, 2023 |
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The Story of Curtis Warren: 6. This Charming Man
|
Aug 10, 2022 |
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The Story of Curtis Warren: 5. The Rich List
|
Aug 03, 2022 |
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The Story of Curtis Warren: 4. Double Dutch
|
Jul 27, 2022 |
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The Story of Curtis Warren: 3. Tigers and Cocaine
|
Jul 20, 2022 |
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The Story of Curtis Warren: 2. Narcos
|
Jul 13, 2022 |
|
The Story of Curtis Warren: 1. Just a Lad from Tocky
|
Jul 06, 2022 |
|
The Story of Curtis Warren: Trailer
|
Jun 29, 2022 |
|
The Story of Paul Massey: 5. The Assassination
|
Apr 19, 2021 |
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The Story of Paul Massey: 4. The Serpent
|
Apr 19, 2021 |
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The Story of Paul Massey: 3. Steak Night
|
Apr 19, 2021 |
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The Story of Paul Massey: 2. Code of Silence
|
Apr 19, 2021 |
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The Story of Paul Massey: 1. Made in Salford
|
Apr 19, 2021 |
|
The Story of Paul Massey: Trailer
|
Apr 19, 2021 |