The Brink’s-Mat Robbery
Summary
This episode details the 1983 Brinks-Mat robbery, where thieves stole £26 million in gold from a Heathrow warehouse. Host John Hopkins explores the heist’s aftermath, including the violent "curse" that claimed dozens of lives and fueled the UK’s ecstasy trade. The story follows key figures like Mickey McEvoy and Kenneth Noy through decades of crime, betrayal, and eventual justice.
Topics discussed
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The Brinks-Matt robbery: The heist and the gold
Historical context: Post-war London crime
Introducing Mickey McEvoy and the planning team
Execution of the robbery and the initial escape
Police investigation and Tony Black's confession
The challenge of laundering 6,800 gold bars
Smelting operations and the Canary Wharf connection
Early convictions and the search for the gold
The murder of Detective John Fordham
Trials of Noy, Reader, and the smelting ring
Gang infighting and the rise of the ecstasy trade
The 'Curse of Brinks-Matt': Violence and deaths
McEvoy's release and the death of Brenda Dekebril
Further murders and Kenneth Noy's final conviction
Mickey McEvoy's release from prison in 2000
Later deaths and the legacy of the curse
Outro and Noiser Plus subscription promo
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