Post by Emperor AAdmin on May 15, 2019 23:08:06 GMT -5
PIRANHAS FROM TIRANA
Britain’s cocaine epidemic is fuelled by Albanian mafia thugs who sneak in to run drug trade
A trail of misery, orchestrated by the so-called Albanian Connection, is 'fuelling our knife crime problem'
By Oliver Harvey, Chief Feature Writer in Tirana, Albania
A trail of misery, orchestrated by the so-called Albanian Connection, is 'fuelling our knife crime problem'
By Oliver Harvey, Chief Feature Writer in Tirana, Albania
7th May 2019, 12:51 am
Updated: 8th May 2019, 1:08 pm
Updated: 8th May 2019, 1:08 pm
THE sight of them is not unusual – but what they are looking for is.
As I boarded a packed Albania-bound flight at Gatwick last week, a posse of Border
As I boarded a packed Albania-bound flight at Gatwick last week, a posse of Border
Force officials and sniffer dogs were carefully screening passengers.
Nicknamed 2gunz, Fari Lleshi said he came to the UK in a truck but was deported
back to Albania earlier this year after drifting into drug dealing
Border Force are on the look out for drug money as Albanian crime groups’ prominence is increasing
As the queue tailed back through the terminal, officers declined to say what they were looking for
— but these dogs have been trained to sniff out money. DRUG MONEY.
For suitcases stuffed with the millions that are generated by Britain’s cocaine users are being couriered
For suitcases stuffed with the millions that are generated by Britain’s cocaine users are being couriered
to the Balkan nation by air, land and sea.
It’s the final stage in a trail of misery, leading from the coca fields of the Amazon to Britain’s streets,
It’s the final stage in a trail of misery, leading from the coca fields of the Amazon to Britain’s streets,
orchestrated by the so-called Albanian Connection.
In Albania, cocaine cash is lavished on high-end property and flash cars, feeding corruption and
In Albania, cocaine cash is lavished on high-end property and flash cars, feeding corruption and
damaging the rule of law.
In Britain the cheap, high-purity cocaine has fuelled the knife crime epidemic and the county lines
In Britain the cheap, high-purity cocaine has fuelled the knife crime epidemic and the county lines
drug-dealing phenomenon.
Little wonder that Albania — a tiny nation of around three million that is desperate to join the EU
Little wonder that Albania — a tiny nation of around three million that is desperate to join the EU
— is now at the forefront of the UK’s fight against organised crime.
BLOOD FEUDS
Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) says the Albanian crime groups’ prominence is increasing
BLOOD FEUDS
Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) says the Albanian crime groups’ prominence is increasing
and they are expanding their influence upstream.
Chain-smoking cigarettes in a Tirana bar, a local prosecutor told me how his countrymen cornered
Chain-smoking cigarettes in a Tirana bar, a local prosecutor told me how his countrymen cornered
Britain’s £5billion cocaine market.
He said: “They went straight to the source — South America. They became wholesalers and cut out
He said: “They went straight to the source — South America. They became wholesalers and cut out
the middle men.”
Albanian mobsters then teamed up with the ’Ndrangheta — the most powerful Italian Mafia franchise
Albanian mobsters then teamed up with the ’Ndrangheta — the most powerful Italian Mafia franchise
— who have insiders at some of Europe’s busiest sea ports.
High-purity cocaine arriving in Belgium and the Netherlands in shipping containers from South America
High-purity cocaine arriving in Belgium and the Netherlands in shipping containers from South America
then continues its journey to Britain.
Once here, the cocaine is pushed by street dealers and enforcers such as the self-styled Hellbanianz.
Based in Barking, East London, the brazen Albanian foot soldiers have shown off their guns, cash and
Once here, the cocaine is pushed by street dealers and enforcers such as the self-styled Hellbanianz.
Based in Barking, East London, the brazen Albanian foot soldiers have shown off their guns, cash and
flash cars on social media.
'READY FOR WAR'
In one rap video released by the group in October they insisted they were “ready for war”.
In 2016 three of the street gang were jailed for a total of 42 years after a police operation discovered
'READY FOR WAR'
In one rap video released by the group in October they insisted they were “ready for war”.
In 2016 three of the street gang were jailed for a total of 42 years after a police operation discovered
£6million of drugs and a Skorpion sub-machine gun with a silencer.
One of those jailed, Hellbanianz leading light Tristen Asllani, who is serving 25 years, posted photos from
One of those jailed, Hellbanianz leading light Tristen Asllani, who is serving 25 years, posted photos from
his Wandsworth jail cell insisting that the only thing he missed was “whores”.
London's Hellbanianz show off their guns, cash and flashy cars on social media
British police are having some success in their investigations - cops uncovered
Albanian godfather Erald Mema's multi-million-pound UK-wide cocaine network
Another Albanian cocaine baron, Klodjan Copja, was caught and is now serving 17 years in a UK jail
The Albanian business model has seen the price of a kilo of uncut cocaine in Britain fall from
more than £45,000 five years ago to about £30,000 now. The coke is sourced for around
£3,800 a kilo in the jungles of Colombia.
Albanian crime reporter Artan Hoxha told The Sun: “The crime groups are based on family
Albanian crime reporter Artan Hoxha told The Sun: “The crime groups are based on family
connections and trusted friends from the same home town in Albania.
“Everyone knows each other’s families, wives, kids, which acts as a guarantee
“Everyone knows each other’s families, wives, kids, which acts as a guarantee
— betray the group and revenge will come next.”
Blood feuds — tit-for-tat slayings between rival clans that can last decades — still erupt here.
Artan, 45, added: “The system means that when police arrest the foot soldiers they struggle
Blood feuds — tit-for-tat slayings between rival clans that can last decades — still erupt here.
Artan, 45, added: “The system means that when police arrest the foot soldiers they struggle
to find the big players. No one talks.”
"Everyone knows each other’s families, wives, kids, which acts as a guarantee
— betray the group and revenge will come next."
However, British police have had high-profile successes. When cops raided Albanian godfather
Erald Mema’s British underlings they discovered £560,000 in cash, 10kg of cocaine, two 9mm
pistols and a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver.
The 33-year-old crook had flitted between Britain and his homeland as he ran his
The 33-year-old crook had flitted between Britain and his homeland as he ran his
multi-million-pound UK-wide cocaine network.
WARRING CRIME FAMILIES
Jailing Mema for 25 years at Oxford Crown Court for conspiracy to supply the Class A drug in
Jailing Mema for 25 years at Oxford Crown Court for conspiracy to supply the Class A drug in
October, Judge Peter Ross told him: “You are a rare case. You’re the most important man of this
organised crime operation.
“Criminal organisations like yours are generating harsh violence using weapons and knives.”
Another Albanian cocaine baron, Klodjan Copja, liked to drive a blood-red Ferrari through the
“Criminal organisations like yours are generating harsh violence using weapons and knives.”
Another Albanian cocaine baron, Klodjan Copja, liked to drive a blood-red Ferrari through the
streets of home town Elbasan when he returned from Britain.
For three years cops took out Copja’s couriers and foot soldiers who helped to flood London,
For three years cops took out Copja’s couriers and foot soldiers who helped to flood London,
Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham with £150million of coke.
Copja, 31, remained elusive, ploughing his profits into a swanky bar in his home town in central
Copja, 31, remained elusive, ploughing his profits into a swanky bar in his home town in central
Albania.
He was finally caught using a fake passport on the Greek-Albanian border and is now serving 17
He was finally caught using a fake passport on the Greek-Albanian border and is now serving 17
years in a UK jail.
Elbasan has been blighted by warring crime families whose tentacles stretch to the UK.
Copja’s brother was arrested for blowing up a rival. Mobsters dressed as cops peppered an enemy’s
Elbasan has been blighted by warring crime families whose tentacles stretch to the UK.
Copja’s brother was arrested for blowing up a rival. Mobsters dressed as cops peppered an enemy’s
bar with gunfire, killing three and wounding seven.
Many Albanians reach Britain using false papers or pay around £12,000 to sneak across the Channel
Many Albanians reach Britain using false papers or pay around £12,000 to sneak across the Channel
in the backs of lorries.
Artan Hoxha says the crime groups are based on family connections which act
as a guarantee - 'betray the group and revenge will come next'
Agron Morina says that more and more people are leaving for Britain as 'there’s no jobs here'
In Albania’s beautiful north eastern region of Has, as many as 10,000 of the 25,000 population
have decamped to the UK.
In the remote town of Krume, builder Agron Morina told The Sun: “People leave for Britain every
In the remote town of Krume, builder Agron Morina told The Sun: “People leave for Britain every
day. This is a ghost town now.”
As we stood talking in the town’s main drag, seven flash cars with British plates — including
As we stood talking in the town’s main drag, seven flash cars with British plates — including
top-of-the-range Mercedes, a BMW and an Audi A7 — drove past.
Dad of three Agron, 46, spent three years working as a plasterer in Stratford, East London, after
Dad of three Agron, 46, spent three years working as a plasterer in Stratford, East London, after
arriving in the back of a lorry.
AUTOMATIC RIFLES
He said: “There’s no jobs here. I can get £60 a month in benefits. In the UK I was earning as much
AUTOMATIC RIFLES
He said: “There’s no jobs here. I can get £60 a month in benefits. In the UK I was earning as much
as £500 a week as a plasterer.”
Not all take regular work, like Agron. The £12,000 fee for a place in a lorry means some end up
Not all take regular work, like Agron. The £12,000 fee for a place in a lorry means some end up
working for gangs to pay it off.
"People leave for Britain every day.This is a ghost town now."
Agron Morina
Agron Morina
Others, such as Fari Lleshi, drift into drug dealing. Nicknamed 2gunz, Lleshi arrived in Britain after
serving six years for a £20,000 bank heist in Italy.
He said: “Like all Albanians, I came in a truck. There is no other way to travel to England.”
Originally from Kukes, less than 20 miles from Krume, he worked as a plasterer in Britain and tried
He said: “Like all Albanians, I came in a truck. There is no other way to travel to England.”
Originally from Kukes, less than 20 miles from Krume, he worked as a plasterer in Britain and tried
to launch a career as a rapper — boasting in one song of having cocaine in his blood.
Heavily tattooed Lleshi, 29, was sentenced to three years in the UK for possession of Class A
Heavily tattooed Lleshi, 29, was sentenced to three years in the UK for possession of Class A
narcotics with intent to supply.
He was deported back to Albania earlier this year.
Cocking a snook at the authorities, in March he released a bling rap video on YouTube, brandishing
He was deported back to Albania earlier this year.
Cocking a snook at the authorities, in March he released a bling rap video on YouTube, brandishing
two hand guns, while others stood behind with AK-47 automatic rifles. A disclaimer stated all the
weapons were replicas.
"Like all Albanians, I came in a truck. There is no other way to travel to England."
Fari Lleshi
Fari Lleshi
Back in the capital, Tirana, leading opposition politician and former Justice Minister Gazment
Bardhi, 32, has a bird’s eye view from his office of clusters of cranes around rising tower blocks.
He said: “They are built with criminal assets. Dirty money is destabilising Albania.”
Crime bosses can buy their way out of prison and politics has been infected by drugs cash. But
He said: “They are built with criminal assets. Dirty money is destabilising Albania.”
Crime bosses can buy their way out of prison and politics has been infected by drugs cash. But
Albania is trying to fight back.
Vast cannabis plantations here have been eradicated. A Special Prosecution Office, SPAK, is being
Vast cannabis plantations here have been eradicated. A Special Prosecution Office, SPAK, is being
set up to probe organised crime and high-level corruption.
British law enforcement has forged a partnership with its Albanian counterparts to battle the gangs.
British law enforcement has forged a partnership with its Albanian counterparts to battle the gangs.
But crime reporter Artan Hoxha is not impressed.
He said: “The UK is working with Albanian police but cops here are under-resourced and need to
He said: “The UK is working with Albanian police but cops here are under-resourced and need to
do more. It’s no good arresting foot soldiers in London if you don’t take out the roots in Albania.
“But even if you cut off the snake’s head, many more will grow back.”
“But even if you cut off the snake’s head, many more will grow back.”
Gazment Bardhi says 'dirty money is destabilising Albania'
They also show off handguns on social media
Brazen gangs like Hellbanianz brag of their luxury lifestyles
