£2 MILLION DRUG NETWORK BUSTED: Three Men Jailed for 67 Years After Massive Heroin & Cocaine Haul
Huge Drugs seizure after six-month Met sting
Detectives from the Met’s Organised Crime Command have smashed a major drug ring, sentencing three men to a combined 67 years behind bars. The operation uncovered over 50kg of Class A drugs worth a staggering £2 million. The crackdown followed a relentless six-month investigation into a ruthless gang pushing heroin and cocaine on London streets.
Underworld Kingpin Caught Red-Handed
The probe kicked off in January 2017 when officers spotted head honcho Valjet Pepaj handing over seven kilograms of heroin to courier Yassir Thamer. Police swooped, stopping the vehicle carrying the drugs valued at £687,100, and arrested Thamer.
Subsequent surveillance revealed a network of shady couriers moving cash and drugs between locations across Northampton, Hemel Hempstead, Barnet, and Kent. Pepaj was seen exchanging heavy bags of dirty money with accomplice Bastri Nuhi and co-conspirator Edi Vyzaj, while Macedonian lorry driver Gafur Salih played a key role in the drug transfers.
Drugs, Cash & Crime Gear Found in Raids
- Police caught seven kilos of high-purity cocaine in a VW Golf driven by Lajdon Vengo.
- Two huge holdalls filled with cocaine seized from Vyzaj’s vehicle and home.
- Plastic bags and a laminator used for packaging drugs found in Vyzaj’s bedroom.
- More cocaine discovered in a Mercedes linked to Rezart Pepaj.
Sentences Handed Down
At Harrow Crown Court on 11 April, the three main defendants were locked up for years:
- Valjet Pepaj, 28, got 27 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- Edi Vyzaj, 30, received 18 years for the same offence.
- Gafur Salih, 47, was sentenced to 22 years for conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Bastri Nuhi, 39, bagged 31 months for money laundering.
Earlier sentences include:
- Rezart Pepaj, 25, seven years (November 2017)
- Yassir Thamer, 32, six years (November 2017)
- Lajdon Vengo, 29, seven years (April 2017)
Acting Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Cailes said: “This was a complex protracted investigation which has achieved significant results. Drugs with a street value of in excess of £2m have been removed from the streets of London, preventing further harm and suffering. The sentencing reflects the level of criminality these defendants were involved in and should be seen as a strong deterrent for others involved in the importation and distribution of Class A drugs.”
The Met’s crackdown sends a clear message: London’s major drug dealers face long, harsh sentences. The streets just got a bit safer.
