Suspected Albanian organised crime group members charged with drug offences

Cash and drugs seized after raids. Picture: National Crime Agency

Police have seized £340,000 in cash and cocaine worth £400,000 following the arrest of two men in Chiswick.

30-year-old Rrustem Dauti and 32-year-old Fisnik Kurtucai were arrested on suspicion of money laundering this Wednesday (13 January) on Cambridge Road North after police found them with a bag containing £100,000.

Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP), a joint National Crime Agency (NCA) and Metropolitan Police Service unit, carried out the arrests.

Two more arrests were made of men the police believe are members of the same Albanian organised crime group. They have all now been charged with money laundering and drug supply offences after a total of £340,000 in cash and cocaine worth £400,000 was seized.

The OCP arrested, Florian Meshi, 22, for immigration and drug supply offences whilst searching Dauti’s property on Trotwood, Hainault, where £140,000 in cash and a cutting agent for cocaine was seized.

A search of Meshi’s address was carried out where officers arrested a fourth man, Azem Gashi, 26, for drug offences after four kilos of cocaine were found at the property, along with approximately £100,000 in cash.

All four men were charged at Acton Police Station, and appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court today where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Isleworth Crown Court on 12 February.

OCP Operations Manager Matt McMillan said, “The NCA and Met continue to work in partnership to detect and apprehend individuals suspected of profiting from drug trafficking.

“These were large cash seizures, with the ability to cause serious disruption to serious and organised crime.”

January 17, 2021