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Roy Francis Adkins
Roy Francis Adkins
Born	4 October 1947; Hammersmith, London, England
Died	28 September 1990 (aged 42); Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cause of death	Murder (shooting)
Occupation(s)	Gangster, drug trafficker

Roy Francis Adkins (4 October 1947^[1] – 28 September 1990) was an English gangster. He was a recognised London gangland figure during the 1970s and 80s.

Biography

Adkins started his career in robbery and, as with many criminal figures during that period, moved into drug smuggling, primarily cannabis. He had a reputation for a quick temper and for being very physically imposing and strong and was a feared figure for many years. During the 1980s he became partners with Klaas Bruinsma in the Netherlands and was allegedly appointed as head of the drugs division of Bruinsma's organisation. Adkins was implicated in April 1990 in the murder in Spain of former train robber Charles Wilson^[2] although this was never proven. Adkins was involved in a fight and shootout with Bruinsma in the famous Amsterdam night club/brothel Yab Yum and his refusal to submit or back down to Bruinsma is widely believed to have directly led to his murder.^[3]

Death

On 28 September 1990, Adkins was seen with two Colombian men at the American Hotel, Amsterdam. According to Adkins' past accomplice, Sam O'Neil, Adkins had been smuggling stolen emeralds through the Netherlands for the Colombians, however, one shipment had been stolen. O'Neil had seen Adkins in the American Hotel's Nightwatch bar, though Adkins had indicated O'Neil should move along.^[4] Some time later that evening, Adkins was shot dead.^[5] After his death, the Metropolitan Police seized £900,000 as suspected proceeds of crime. These assets were later released after an appeal from the legatees of the Will.^[6]

In 1993, police considered reopening the investigation into the killing of Adkins and Wilson due to the January 1993 assassination of British businessman Donald Urquhart in London.^[7]

References

^ "Roy Adkins". findmypast.co.uk.
^ Campbell, Duncan (21 November 1991). "Shot gang boss wanted robber dead". The Guardian. The man who ordered the killing of the Great Train Robber Charlie Wilson was himself shot dead in an Amsterdam bar, a London inquest was told yesterday. Roy Francis Adkins, a 42-year-old Londoner, was killed in the Nightwatch bar of the American Hotel in Amsterdam on September 28, last year.
^ Walsh, Peter (2018). Drug War: The Secret History. Milo Books Ltd. ISBN 9781908479945.
^ Newton, Michael (2009). The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781438119144.
^ Campbell, Duncan (2019). Underworld: The definitive history of Britain's organised crime. Random House. ISBN 9781473566095.
^ "Ben Douglas-Jones secured the release of £900,000". Linenhall Chambers. 18 January 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
^ "Gangland files may be reopened". Newcastle Journal. 6 January 1993. p. 5. Retrieved 6 March 2020.