Gang jailed for 65 years for large drug dealing operation

An organised crime group who supplied cocaine across the UK have been jailed for more than 65 years following an extensive investigation from the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency

A joint Met and National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation has led to an organised crime group being jailed for their role in the supply of cocaine across the capital and the United Kingdom. Their efforts signify officers’ efforts to crack down on drug supply and associated anti-social behaviour and violence, which causes misery to Londoners and those beyond.

The investigation unveiled that Redon Bushi, 32, (27.04.1993), of Cherry Crescent, Brentford, was operating in the leading role of this enterprise over a number of years, with multiple importers and couriers working with him.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on Monday, 10 July 2024 to –

• two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs,
• conspiracy to transfer criminal property,
• possessing criminal property.

He was sentenced to a total of 24 years’ and 10 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Encrypted messaging services EncroChat and Signal revealed Bushi had conspired to supply a minimum of 832kg of cocaine, with a street value of up to £81,640,000, across London and the entirety of the UK. Once the Encrochat messages had been discovered, a targeted operation followed and Met detectives started work to dismantle the illegal drug-dealing operation.

The investigation

Met detectives discovered Bushi was using Encrochat under the username of ‘Sealvermouth’ after the platform was cracked by international law enforcement, supported by the NCA.

Their investigation showed that Bushi took precautions to attempt to protect his wider criminal network. His couriers would only be provided post codes, times, and a loose description of the individual they would be providing to.

However, his efforts were combatted by the tenacity of Met officers, who were able to uncover the group’s lines of communication. They thoroughly reviewed each and every device and chat pertaining to the group. They also trawled through hours’ worth of CCTV and were able to piece together the inner mechanics of the criminal operation.

Using this material, officers stopped one of the vehicles belonging to Bushi’s couriers, Ahmad Jabarkhill in June 2020 and found nearly £700,000 on him.

The Met and NCA officers also used covert tactics and intelligence to identify three more of Bushi’s couriers - Arline Sida, Luke Ferguson and Kelvin Hoxha, gathering evidence to show the scale of the enterprise.

In addition to the chats, which were found between the group, fake identity cards were also found, as well as a van with a sophisticated concealment. There was also a camera set up at the location where drugs were being stored so it could be remotely monitored.

Acting on this information, Sida and Hoxha were both arrested in Brentford in August 2023. Searches were carried out at the address and they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine.

Luke Ferguson, another member of the criminal enterprise, was then arrested at a ‘safe house’ in Brentford and found in possession of 72kg of cocaine, worth an estimated street value of £6.24 million.

Police and the NCA then launched a manhunt for Bushi after his team were arrested. He stayed in a series of hotels to evade officers, bought a new phone, clothing, and had more than £3,000 in cash. Whilst the manhunt was ongoing, Bushi directed others to check cameras at various addresses to identify any police attendance or surveillance.

He was arrested in Reading in the following days.

Detective Constable David Leitner, who led the investigation on behalf of the Met, said:

“This case demonstrates our relentlessness in pursuing organised crime, while utilising the unprecedented opportunity that Encrochat represent to its fullest effect.

“Bushi clearly believed that these messaging platforms protected him from law enforcement, but they only served to provide us the very evidence to convict him and his associates.

“This shows the Met’s commitment to tackling offenders who are instrumental in supplying drugs to the streets of London.”

The wider criminal enterprise

Ahmad Jabarkhill, 32, (01.01.1993) pleaded guilty to the possession of criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 and was sentenced on the same date to two years and three months’ imprisonment.

Arline Sida, 23 (16.02.2002), of London Road West, Amersham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 years’ 9 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Kelvin Hoxha, 23, (15.04.2002), of Field Lane, Brentford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and driving while disqualified on Saturday, 26 October 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 11 years’ 8 Months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.

Luke Ferguson, 32 (14.04.1993), of Becklow Road, Shepherd’s Bush, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Thursday, 21 November 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 years’ 5 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.