Albanian criminal network uncovered in Hainault and Ilford, say police

£740,000 in cash and cocaine was found at the addresses of two men from Hainault and one from Ilford (Credit: OCP)

Two men from Hainault and one from Ilford are suspected to be members of an Albanian criminal network after hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash and class A drugs were found at their homes. 

Rrustem Dauti, 30, and Fisnik Kurtucai, 32, were arrested on Wednesday, 13 January at an address in Cambridge Road, Chiswick, where police found a bag containing £100,000 in cash. 

Officers then searched Dauti’s home in Trotwood, Hainault, and discovered a further £140,000 in cash and a device used to cut cocaine.

They also arrested 22-year-old Florian Meshi at the property on suspicion of drug and immigration offences.

During a search of Meshi’s address in High View Parade, Ilford, police found four kilograms of cocaine, another £100,000 in cash, and 26-year-old Azem Gashi. 

The four men were remanded into custody yesterday after appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court. 

The Organised Crime Partnership, a joint operation from the Metropolitan Police and National Crime Agency, seized a total of £340,000 in cash and £400,000 worth of cocaine as a result of the operation.

“These were large cash seizures, with the ability to cause serious disruption to serious and organised crime,” said OCP operations manager Matt McMillian. 

Dauti and Gashi, of Hainault, and Meshi, of Ilford, were charged with money laundering and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Kurtucai, who did not give the police an address, was charged with money laundering. 

They will next appear at Isleworth Crown Court on 12 February where they will be able to enter a plea. 

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