England/ Bar homes worth 10 million pounds, punish four Albanians

Members of an Albanian organised crime gang will be deported after raids throughout Manchester uncovered a large underground drug ring.

More than 10 million pounds of drugs and 13,000 cannabis plants were found as houses were raided by police between March and July 2023 as part of Operation Mile, a national operation run by forces throughout the United Kingdom to fight organised crime groups of the Western Balkans across the country.

Under the operations, 52 arrest warrants were issued with 73 persons arrested, including 46 Albanian citizens, worth around 10,903,,200 pounds, according to local media.

The officers initially received information about an Albanian who was believed to be controlling others in the large-scale production of cannabis across the Great Manchester. A secret investigation was conducted between May and November last year.

Police worked to identify the highest-ranking members controlling activity throughout the region. The officers searched houses in Chadderton and Wigan, with four suspects, Riza Hodaj, Irilian Hodaj, Henry Shqifte and Armando Xhemala, arrested.

Early in 2024, Xhemalay and Henry Shkrytta were all found guilty of plotting to produce cannabis.

In September, Riza Hodaj had a trial at the Bolton Crown Court, where he was acquitted of plotting to produce cannabis and money laundering. After the trial he was convicted of all charges.