Crackdown on Albanian Drug Gang: A Cinematic Operation
Unveiling the ‘Eddie Line’
In a meticulously coordinated series of raids across the capital, authorities dismantled an Albanian County Lines drugs gang with a penchant for Al Pacino’s iconic Scarface character.
The gang, led by brothers Edmund and Edward Haziri, operated the ‘Eddie line,’ flooding towns across Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire with £1.1m worth of cocaine concealed in lottery tickets.
Origins of the Operation
The investigation commenced when a vigilant police community support officer in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, noticed suspicious activity.
The ensuing year-long operation tracked the gang’s activities, revealing a complex web of connections.
The network extended from middle-man Gazmend Hoxha in Leicester to the Haziri brothers in London.
Decoding the ‘Eddie Line’
The breakthrough in the case occurred during a raid on gang member Alban Krasniqi’s property in Blackheath Hill, south London.
A discarded iPhone found in a neighboring garden, tossed during the raid, became a crucial piece of evidence.
Detectives, with limited attempts to unlock the phone, relied on surveillance footage showing gang members making a contactless purchase.
The code entered in the footage unlocked the seized phone, unveiling a treasure trove of information: drug orders, drop locations, dates, and contacts.
The Sting Operation Unfolds
Armed with evidence from the seized phone and other investigative findings, authorities charged the gang with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
The dramatic police footage captures the moment the gang was apprehended during early morning raids in London and Leicester.
The arrests culminated in a total of 71 years and seven months of combined jail time for the convicted members.
A Peek into the Gang’s World
In the aftermath, details emerged about the gang’s extensive operations, including a DIY casino discovered in a targeted business premises.
The court heard about numerous dealers supplying up to 145 users daily, processing a total of 9kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.1m.
Law Enforcement’s Message
Detective Inspector Kane Martin, who led the operation, emphasized the significant impact of the ‘Eddie Line’ on communities, stating, “The Haziri brothers and their gang are now spending many years behind bars, and I hope this sends a very clear message to anyone else involved in drug dealing: we will catch you, put you before the courts, and stop you from spreading misery and addiction in our communities.”
Convicted Members and Pending Sentencing
The convicted gang members include Edmund Haziri, Edward Haziri, Gazmend Hoxha, Alban Krasniqi, Samuel Stoica, Simion Stoica, Kristi Prifti, Joshua Garrigan, and Razvan Manoliu. Daniel Stavrat, the final member, awaits sentencing next month.
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