Albanian gangs now a major threat: Drug dealers’ ‘high influence’ on cocaine supply to UK

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Some 320 people died from crack cocaine in 2015

The National Crime Agency (NCA) issued the stark warning that gangs of drug dealers from Albania had closed in on the cocaine market in the UK. 

They have been branded “a significant threat” in the NCA’s annual crime report, with drug related deaths at an all time high. 

Some 320 people died from crack cocaine in 2015, up from 247 in 2014, with organised gangs from Albania believed to be a ‘high-level’ influence on the supply and distribution. 

One example the NCA flagged up was a group of 20 Albanian nationals supplying Manchester with drugs, running a 24-hour operation targeting the city’s clubs while living in lavish apartments. 

In the report, the NCA said: “The threat faced from Albanian crime groups is significant.

“London is their primary hub, but they are established across the UK.

“Albanian crime groups have established a high-profile influence within UK organised crime, and have considerable control across the UK drug trafficking market, with particular impact and high-level influence on the cocaine market.”

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The National Crime Agency (NCA) issued the stark warning

In prisons, Albanians made up the fifth largest foreign group with 512 inmates in England and Wales last year.

And according to the 2011 census, there were 13,295 Albanians living in England and 120 in Wales. 

Shocking images emerged last year of Albanian inmates living the high life behind bars after photos emerged – despite mobile phones being banned in prisons – of prisoners enjoying Christmas dinner and displaying gang signs. 

The threat faced from Albanian crime groups is significant

NCA

The lags sent the photo to a a website in their home country captioned: “We wish all Albanian people Merry Christmas from a prison in England. God may save all of you.”

NCA Deputy Director General Matthew Horne admitted the gangs of Albanians were armed and violent, but tried to reassure the public by saying their numbers are “relatively small”. 

He said: “It doesn’t take time for somebody to be hurt.

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Organised gangs from Albania believed to be a ‘high-level’ influence in drugs

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  Drug users using dark net to buy cocaine, cannabis, and LSD

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  Carrie Fisher ‘had cocaine’ in her system when she died

“Often it’s the criminals themselves, but obviously we are concerned there are innocent bystanders obviously in this.”

The report also highlights competing nationalities competing to gain control of the drug market. 

Lithuanian crime gangs are also eyeing up the dangerous and lucrative industry, and are trying to turf out their Albanian rivals. 

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  Drug users using dark net to buy cocaine, cannabis, and LSD

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  Carrie Fisher ‘had cocaine’ in her system when she died

They too are armed with “ready access to firearms”, it warned. 

And Pakistani and Turkish groups are predominant in the heroin smuggling trade. 

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In prisons, Albanians made up the fifth largest foreign group

Mr Horne added: “What is striking from this year’s assessment are the themes running through the crime types.

“Organised criminal networks are using online methods to defraud and extort, but also [to] facilitate the abuse of children and advertise the victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.”