Albanian criminal networks have become a significant force in Britain’s drug trade, making a name for themselves by undercutting competitors with lower prices and gaining a reputation as reliable partners in business.
However, despite their increasing control over the trafficking of narcotics, they do not have a monopoly on the market.
Rival groups continue to exert influence in specific regions and drugs, creating a constant undercurrent of competition and violence in the UK’s organised crime scene.
Balkan Gangs and their Influence in the UK
Balkan criminal networks have gradually increased their dominance in the UK’s drug supply, particularly in the heroin, cocaine, and cannabis trades.
Over the years, Albanian gangs have expanded their reach, but they are not without competition.
The UK’s varied landscape of criminal groups, ranging from Pakistani heroin traffickers to Turkish cocaine peddlers, continues to maintain control over different markets.
Gary Carroll, an expert on UK organised crime, explains how, although Albanian gangs have grown in power, the UK remains a patchwork of different groups, each with its influence in particular areas.
Pakistani Heroin Traffickers and Their Stronghold in the West Midlands
The heroin trade remains one of the most entrenched areas of organised crime in the UK, with Pakistani gangs playing a dominant role in supplying the country with the drug.
The West Midlands, in particular, serves as a hub for heroin trafficking, with many consignments arriving by air freight.
The familial ties between individuals from Pakistan and Bangladesh play a large part in the success of this trade, with corrupt practices among customs and border agents making it easier for heroin to flow into the UK.
Turkish Gangs Control Cocaine Trade in North London
While Albanian gangs increasingly take over the large-scale importation of drugs, Turkish crime groups still hold significant power in the cocaine market, particularly in north London.
Turkish gangs have been able to maintain a firm grip on this trade, with the East London-based Bombacilar gang once controlling much of the UK’s heroin and cocaine trafficking.
Despite facing rivals, Turkish gangs continue to thrive within London, and their influence shows no sign of waning.
However, they remain largely confined to the capital, with minimal expansion into other regions of the UK.
Turf Wars Between Glasgow’s Crime Families
In Scotland, Glasgow remains a stronghold for traditional crime families.
Although Albanian crime groups have started to make inroads into the Scottish drug trade, families such as the Lyons and Daniels continue to dominate in the city.
Their rivalry, which dates back to a botched cocaine deal in 2001, is one of the longest-running and most violent feuds in Glasgow’s criminal history.
However, even these long-established families are finding it increasingly difficult to operate without dealing with the influence of Albanian networks.
Polish Gangs Dominate Amphetamine and Ecstasy Trade
While Albanian gangs control the market for cocaine and cannabis, Polish and other Eastern European gangs have a stronghold on the supply of amphetamines and ecstasy in the UK.
The Netherlands plays a crucial role as a transit hub for these drugs, with much of the ecstasy and speed passing through this gateway before reaching the UK.
Polish gangs, particularly, have been implicated in large-scale drug trafficking, with undercover operations resulting in the dismantling of multiple smuggling rings.
The UK’s Evolving Criminal Landscape
The UK’s criminal underworld is constantly shifting, with new players emerging and old alliances dissolving.
While Albanian gangs have undoubtedly grown in power and influence, they must still contend with the entrenched positions of other criminal factions.
From the heroin trade in Birmingham to the cocaine networks in north London, the competition among gangs has only intensified in recent years.
Despite these rivalries, the Albanian mafia’s presence is undeniable, and their increasing role in the UK drug trade is shaping the future of organised crime in the country.
The Complex Web of Organised Crime in the UK
As these various criminal factions compete for power and control over the UK’s drug supply, violence and turf wars are inevitable.
The blending of ethnic and family-based networks in the drug trade is a testament to the adaptability of these groups, who will continue to evolve and expand their reach.
However, law enforcement agencies are increasingly aware of the influence Albanian gangs hold, and efforts are being made to disrupt their operations.
The landscape of organised crime in the UK is ever-changing, and the competition among these diverse criminal factions will only intensify as they battle for dominance.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn