Albanian crime gangs dominate the UK drug trade by securing cheap cocaine but fail to break into Liverpool’s tightly controlled underworld

Organized crime is constantly evolving, and in the UK, Albanian drug gangs have become a dominant force.

Using direct connections to Colombian cartels, they’ve managed to push out rivals by offering cheaper cocaine and expanding rapidly across major cities like London and Birmingham.

But there’s one place they haven’t been able to infiltrate—Liverpool.

Despite their reputation for ruthless violence and aggressive expansion, Albanian crime groups have found Liverpool to be an impenetrable fortress. So what makes this city different?

How Albanian Gangs Took Over the UK Drug Market

The rise of Albanian gangs in the UK dates back to the 1990s when they established direct links with South American suppliers.

By negotiating deals straight from the source, they bypassed traditional European crime networks and flooded the market with cheaper, high-quality cocaine.

This business strategy, combined with their willingness to use extreme violence when necessary, allowed them to dominate the drug trade in London, Birmingham, and other regions.

A 2023 United Nations report confirmed that Albanian gangs now have “considerable control” over the UK’s drug market. A leaked Home Office document even labeled them an “acute threat” due to their involvement in organized crime, including multiple murders.

Liverpool’s Drug Scene Stays Local

While Albanian gangs have taken over in most major cities, Liverpool’s underworld remains controlled by homegrown criminal organizations.

Experts point to several reasons why outside groups struggle to gain a foothold here.

First, Liverpool’s drug trade has deep roots in the community.

Unlike London and Birmingham—where diverse crime groups operate—Liverpool’s gangs are tightly connected to the local population.

Crime families and long-standing groups like the Huyton Firm have maintained control over drug shipments coming through the Port of Liverpool for decades.

A former Scotland Yard detective described Liverpool as a “closed shop” when it comes to organized crime.

Any outsider trying to muscle in would face serious consequences—both from local gangs and from communities that won’t tolerate foreign criminal elements.

High-Profile Drug Busts Show Liverpool’s Criminal Independence

Liverpool’s independent drug scene was highlighted by the recent conviction of Eddie Burton and Sian Banks, a young couple running a £20 million drug smuggling operation.

Their network imported massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, and ketamine hidden in lorries from Europe.

Another Liverpool-based gang was taken down in January after using the Royal Mail to distribute £2.7 million worth of drugs, including MDMA, LSD, and magic mushrooms.

Unlike in other cities where Albanian gangs dominate, these operations were entirely run by locals.

The Brutal Reputation of Albanian Gangs

Albanian crime groups aren’t just known for smart business tactics—they’re also infamous for their ferocious violence. A former senior detective at Scotland Yard recalled warnings from the FBI in the early 2000s about the extreme brutality of these gangs.

One of the most chilling cases linked to Albanian gang activity was the murder of Rhys Thompson, a young father who was abducted, beaten to death, and dumped on a moorland road in West Yorkshire in 2021.

His death was allegedly connected to an attempt to “tax” a cannabis farm run by an Albanian group. To this day, no one has been charged with his murder.

Why Liverpool Remains Off-Limits for Albanian Crime Groups

So why haven’t Albanian gangs been able to take over Liverpool? Experts believe it comes down to several key factors:

1. Community Ties – Liverpool’s criminal network is deeply embedded in the city, making it difficult for outsiders to gain trust or establish operations.
2. Club Security – In Liverpool, nightclub security teams historically controlled the local drug trade. These bouncers were all local and had strong ties to club owners, preventing outsiders from muscling in.
3. Port Control – Major crime figures like Curtis Warren and the Huyton Firm have maintained a stranglehold over what comes in and out of the Port of Liverpool, cutting off Albanian gangs from smuggling opportunities.
4. Fear of Retaliation – Albanian gangs may be violent, but Liverpool’s crime families aren’t known for backing down. Any attempt to undercut local dealers would be met with immediate and severe consequences.

The Bigger Picture: Albanian Gangs Expand Beyond the UK

While Liverpool remains one of the few places in the UK resisting their influence, Albanian gangs have continued to spread their operations elsewhere—even reaching as far as Australia.

A former Scotland Yard detective recalled cases where Albanian gangsters entered the UK under false asylum claims, only to build massive criminal empires in cities like London.

He also described instances where Albanian hit squads were dispatched to carry out revenge killings, including one case where a taxi driver in Hove was stabbed to death before his killers attempted to flee the country.

Liverpool: The City That Won’t Bow to Outsiders

While much of the UK has fallen under the influence of Albanian drug gangs, Liverpool remains a rare exception.

With a deeply entrenched local crime network, strong ties to the community, and control over key smuggling routes, the city has kept outside criminal groups at bay.

For now, at least, it seems that Liverpool’s underworld remains strictly locals only.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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