Seven men who were part of a criminal network in north London that illegally trafficked Albanian men into the UK have been jailed.
Police launched an investigation into the network after discovering and closing down cannabis factories in Brent.
Intelligence gathered during this operation revealed a people smuggling gang which often transported Albanian men through Dover to Southgate in Enfield.
Seven men were subsequently found to have conspired to traffic illegal immigrants into the UK between January and May 2021.
They were all sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday (June 22).
The police investigation identified an organised crime group that would use Romanian registered goods vehicles to smuggle Albanian men into the country.
The Albanian men would typically be hidden in the cab area as the vehicle travelled via Dunkirk to Dover.
These vehicles would then stop at services in the south east of England, where they would be handed over to members of the crime group by the vehicle driver.
Many of the Albanian men ended up in Southgate, Enfield.
It is believed that some of the men who entered the UK illegally, but were not victims of human trafficking, paid as much as £24,000 in cash to travel to the UK.
The seven men were sentenced as follows:
- Dimitraki Nika, 35 (31.7.87) a Greek national of Newsholme Drive, Enfield, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for his part travelling to the service areas and receiving the me
- Arlin Leka, 29 (1.5.94) an Albanian national of Ashfield Parade, Southgate, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for to his part in the conspiracy, arranging the passages into the UK and travelling to the service areas and receiving the men, as well as possession of criminal property, namely £13,000 cash
- Doru-Emil Moldovan, 32, a Romanian national of an unknown address, was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment for his part in the conspiracy as a lorry driver, as well as possession of criminal property, namely £9,980 cash
- Kristian Agolli, 35, of Dudrich Mews, Enfield, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in receiving smuggled males and was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment
- Aldis Cseplye, 33, of Pembroke Road, Hornsey, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in receiving smuggled males and was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment
- Sorin Holerca, 40, of High Street, Swanscombe, Kent, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in co-ordinating transport and was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment
- Jozef Szekely, 33, a Romanian resident of an unknown address, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part as a lorry driver and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment
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