News -
Drug ring sentenced for more than 77 years
Six men have been sentenced to a total of more than 77 years after a Met operation to tackle an organised crime network who supplied cannabis and cocaine across London.
Officers raided a residential address in Shrubland Road, Hackney on 14 August, 2024 and discovered a shotgun and huge bags filled with more than 36kg of cannabis in the kitchen cupboards and even the sofa bed.
In a series of dramatic arrests, police caught many while they were still holding stashes of controlled drugs. In one case, they had just picked up nearly 10kg of cannabis.
The sentences come after an extensive policing operation into the workings of the network where Met officers observed members of the group carrying boxes in and out of the house as they unravelled the network through a forensic examination of their seized phones.
After examining messages between the group, they found images of kilogram blocks of cocaine valued at £33,500 each, linking them to further drug offences. In total, the street value of the drugs officers seized from the gang were worth nearly £500,000.
Leke Gjergjaj, Genald Sekja, Julian Palushi, Eugen Aliaj, Ricardo Rupi, and Pjeter Gjergjaj were all sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 12 September.
- Leke Gjergjaj, 28 (15.04.1997), of Shrubland Road, Hackney, was sentenced to 12 years and three months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine), conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of a shotgun without certificate.
- Genald Sekja, 30 (19.12.1994), of no fixed abode, was sentenced to eight years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine), conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of a shotgun without certificate.
- Julian Palushi, 31 (28.01.1994), of Walm Lane, Willesden Green, was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine), conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of a shotgun without certificate.
- Eugen Aliaj, 30 (26.10.1993), of Alfred Road, South Norwood, was sentenced to 12 years for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of a shotgun without certificate.
- Ricardo Rupi, 25 (19.09.1999), of Church Lane, Harrow, was sentenced to 12 years six months for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (cocaine) and possession of criminal property.
- Pjeter Gjergjaj, 31 (26.10.1993), of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 12 years for conspiracy to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and possession of a shotgun without certificate.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, Head of Central East’s Criminal Investigation Department at the Met, said: “The firearm and the sheer quantity of drugs officers seized during the investigation shows the significant impact this organised criminal network had on our local community.
“These criminal networks are a blight on our communities and use fear and intimidation tactics to carry out their activities.
“Through the hard work of my officers thousands of pounds of Class A and B drugs have been taken off the streets and the suppliers are behind bars.
“These sentences and the dismantling of an organised criminal network demonstrates how the force is taking the fight to dangerous offenders and bringing them to justice.”
Officers executed a warrant at the address on Shrubland Road, Hackney on Thursday, 14 August 2024 as part of a long-running investigation into the supply of controlled drugs in Hackney involving an organised crime network operating in the area.
The property was being used as a safe house where they would store and package illegal narcotics. It contained a huge ventilation system and bags of narcotics hidden in the kitchen cabinets, bathroom cupboards and even the kitchen sink.
When they entered the flat, police caught some of the gang red-handed - Leke Gjergjaj was still inside, along with more than 36kg of cannabis, Gerald Sekja was arrested getting into a taxi with a box containing 3kg of cannabis and Julian Palushi was arrested with a further 5kg of cannabis.
While at the property, officers found a shotgun hidden behind the sofa bed, along with 21 shotgun shells which were scattered across the property.
After a detailed examination of the suspects’ seized phones, officers found discussions linking them to the supply of cocaine alongside photographs of blocks of the Class A drug, each worth more than £33,000.
Leke Gjergjaj, Gerald Sekja, Julian Palushi, Eugen Aliaj, Ricardo Rupi and Pjeter Gjergjaj were found guilty of all offences on Thursday 4 September after a five-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
A seventh man, Kevin Buxton, 63 (12.02.1962), of Bridge Way, Muxton, was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class B drugs. He will be sentenced on Wednesday, 12 November.
