Albanian Crime Gang Busted for £500k Cannabis Empire
Four members of a ruthless Albanian drug ring have been locked up for a total of more than 11 years. The gang pumped out vast quantities of cannabis between 2023 and 2025, cashing in over £500,000 from their illegal trade.
Brothers Run Massive Cannabis Operation
The drug cartel was led by brothers Sefedin and Eldi Tafa. They controlled every part of the business—from growing the weed to sourcing supplies and securing properties. Servet Dobrushi managed sales, keeping the cash flowing. Two lieutenants, Asterjo Sata and Reols Havalj, ran the cannabis farms and ferried drugs and money across the UK. Simon Jackson, a crooked insurance broker, kept their fleet on the road by creating fake insurance policies. This helped the gang stay under the radar.
Huge Police Haul and Evidence Seized
The bust began in August 2023 in Southend, where cops found 446 flourishing cannabis plants worth £118,050, stashes of ready-to-sell weed, £5,000 cash, and a wallet belonging to Eldi Tafa. Fingerprints and a notebook linking names and figures sealed the gang’s fate. Sata’s prints were found on cash piles. Raids uncovered more grow houses from Southend to Wales. Police seized £71,780 in cash and 78.5kg of cannabis, plus evidence of another 80kg sold, raking in half a million quid in wholesale profits.
Sentences Handed Down to Key Gangsters
- Sefedin Tafa, 33, got 4.5 years for conspiracy to supply cannabis.
- Asterjo Sata, 22, sentenced to 32 months for drug and criminal property offences.
- Reols Havalj, 28, jailed for 23 months and faces deportation after release.
- Servet Dobrushi, 34, received 27 months for conspiracy and criminal property offences.
Simon Jackson, the dodgy insurance broker, awaits sentencing on fraud charges. Eldi Tafa, the other brother and top dog, is still on the run abroad as police chase him down. This gang’s downfall proves one thing: organised crime won’t get a free ride in the UK. The law will catch up—and lock up—those who think they can profit from the illegal drug trade.
