Massive Cannabis Ring Busted in Multi-County Drug Raid
Drilon Dishi has been jailed for nearly six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis. The criminal operation he helped run stretched across Ashford, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire, churning out a cannabis haul worth over £1 million between August 2019 and August 2020.
Huge Cannabis Grow Houses and Cash Seized
Kent and Essex Serious Crime teams seized more than 485 cannabis plants, half a kilo of harvested cannabis, and over £61,000 in cash. Dishi’s sentence pushes the total prison time handed out to all involved close to 43 years behind bars.
How Police Cracked the Gang
The police investigation kicked off on 8 October 2019, when officers stopped a car on the M20 near maidstone/" title="Maidstone" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Maidstone. Drilon Dishi was driving and officers found a notepad used as a ledger. This key piece of evidence, along with his phone records, exposed the sprawling cannabis conspiracy.
Dishi tried to downplay the notes as farm work in Albania and denied knowing other suspects. But a raid on his home uncovered £25,560 cash and further incriminating evidence. Initially charged and released on bail, Dishi was later re-arrested during the wider probe in August 2020.
Raids Uncover Massive Cannabis Operation
- June 2020: Detectives discovered a disused warehouse in Hertfordshire converted into a high-tech cannabis factory by the Perhati brothers and others.
- 12 August 2020: Coordinated dawn raids hit multiple locations in Ashford, Canvey Island, and Hertfordshire.
- At Victoria Crescent, Ashford: 129 cannabis plants found in Hekuran Perhati’s home.
- At Essetford Road: 121 plants found with Dashmir Disha.
- At Hertfordshire warehouse: 236 cannabis plants worth nearly £300,000 found, with Adrian Toma and Kejvi Leba inside.
- Additional seizures: 18 vials of cocaine and £3,000 cash recovered at a bristol/" title="Bristol" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Bristol address linked to Brooklyn Selita.
- Over £30,000 cash seized and most offenders arrested.
Gang Sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court
On 29 October 2021, the court handed down jail terms to the ringleaders:
- Fation Perhati, 29 – 3 years 6 months
- Ylber Perhati, 39 – 5 years
- Klevis Prenga, 32 – 4 years
- Brooklyn Selita, 19 – 5 years (plus cocaine possession conviction)
- David Toal, 50 – 4 years
- Doris Perhati, 25 – 5 years 3 months (pleaded guilty)
- Hekuran Perhati, 34 – 5 years 7 months (pleaded guilty)
- Ndue Paluca, 30 – 10 months
- Dashmir Disha, 35 – 10 months
- Kejvi Leba, 21 – 1 year 5 months
- Adrian Toma, 24 – 1 year 7 months
One defendant was found not guilty.
Police Praise Operation’s Success
“These men ran a well-organised cannabis conspiracy yielding at least 100kg of drugs worth over £1 million. Our team unraveled their operation, secured convictions, and snatched their assets. The disruption caused will stop this criminal network from operating in the South East,” said Detective Constable Danny James of Kent Police.
