Violent Albanian gangs 'exerting power' over UK drug trafficking
National crime agency warns small group are having a big impact around the country
Violent Albanian gangs are controlling a significant portion of the UK's cocaine market, a law enforcement report says.
In its annual assessment of serious and organised crime in the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) says Albanians make up only 0.8 per cent of organised criminals in the UK, but warns they are influential and quick to get involved in serious violence.
NCA deputy director general Matthew Horne said: "It's very much a group that's small in number but big in impact.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We have seen an emergence of violence, particularly around enforcing the drug trade, in this group."
London is their "primary hub", but they are established across the UK, reports the BBC.
The gangs are also increasingly expanding their network of influence and forming direct relationships with cocaine suppliers in Latin America.
The NCA adds that Turkish and Serbian crime groups dominate a high volume of the cocaine trade in the UK, while Turkish and Pakistani groups dominate the heroin market.
Corruption among staff at UK ports and airports was a "key vulnerability" in the fight against drug trafficking, continues the report: "Containers and air passengers are the modes most susceptible to the facilitation of Class A drugs by corrupt workers."
It goes on: "Pilots may use foreign registered aircraft (outside the jurisdiction of the Civil Aviation Authority) or aircraft registered to trust companies or to third party addresses that provide a level of anonymity."
The NCA also warns that the purchase of property in the UK presents a significant risk of money laundering.
"Experts described previous estimates of £36 billion to £90 billion for all money laundering affecting the UK as ‘a significant underestimate’, suggesting the amount of cash being illegally laundered in the UK could easily be in excess of £100 billion," says BuzzFeed News.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The drive behind Germany's pro-Israel political consensus
Under the Radar Belief that Israel's security is a 'raison d'etre for the German republic' is under growing pressure
By The Week UK Published
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
4 Americans kidnapped in Mexico by armed gunmen, 2 killed, FBI says
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Amsterdam bans cannabis smoking outside in red light district
Speed Read City council is introducing new rules to improve the quality of life for locals
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Magic mushroom church sues local police
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Magic mushrooms offered at Harley St clinic
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By The Week Staff Published
-
Home Office worker accused of spiking mistress’s drink with abortion drug
Speed Read Darren Burke had failed to convince his girlfriend to terminate pregnancy
By The Week Staff Published
-
In hock to Moscow: exploring Germany’s woeful energy policy
Speed Read Don’t expect Berlin to wean itself off Russian gas any time soon
By The Week Staff Published
-
Were Covid restrictions dropped too soon?
Speed Read ‘Living with Covid’ is already proving problematic – just look at the travel chaos this week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Inclusive Britain: a new strategy for tackling racism in the UK
Speed Read Government has revealed action plan setting out 74 steps that ministers will take
By The Week Staff Published