A Brentford drug kingpin has been jailed for almost 25 years after being caught trying to smuggle £82m worth of cocaine across Britain. Redon Bushi, 32, of Cherry Crescent ran leading role in an operation which involved multiple importers and couriers working with him.
After encrypted messaging service EncroChat was cracked by international law enforcement, detectives found Bushi was looking to supply 832kg worth of cocaine. As a result, the Metropolitan Police and National Crime Agency launched a joint three-year investigation to dismantle the network.
Bushi’s first courier was stopped in June 2020 when Ahmad Jabarkhill was found carrying almost £700k in cash. From this point officers were able to figure three more of his couriers – Arline Sida, Luke Ferguson and Kelvin Hoxha, showing the scale of his enterprise.
More than three years after the first arrest, police apprehended Sida and Hoxha in Brentford in August 2023. Searches were carried out at the address and they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine.
Searches were carried out at the address and they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine. A manhunt was then launched from Bushi himself who stayed in multiple hotels to evade police.
He also bought a new phone, clothing and had more than £3k in cash. Whilst the manhunt was ongoing, Bushi directed others to check cameras at various addresses to identify any police attendance or surveillance.
Despite this, he was arrested in Reading over the following days.
Bushi pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on Monday, July 10, 2024 to;
- two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs,
- conspiracy to transfer criminal property,
- possessing criminal property
He was sentenced to a total of 24 years’ and 10 months imprisonment at the same court on Wednesday, July 9 this year
Detective Constable David Leitner, who led the investigation on behalf of the Met, said: “This case demonstrates our relentlessness in pursuing organised crime, while utilising the unprecedented opportunity that Encrochat represent to its fullest effect.
“Bushi clearly believed that these messaging platforms protected him from law enforcement, but they only served to provide us the very evidence to convict him and his associates. This shows the Met’s commitment to tackling offenders who are instrumental in supplying drugs to the streets of London.”
The enterprise unravels
Ahmad Jabarkhill, 32, pleaded guilty to the possession of criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, July 22 2020 and was sentenced on the same date to two years and three months’ imprisonment.
Arline Sida, 23, of London Road West, Amersham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Wednesday, January 17 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 years’ 9 months imprisonment on Wednesday, July 9 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Kelvin Hoxha, 23, of Field Lane, Brentford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and driving while disqualified on Saturday, October 26 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 11 years’ 8 Months imprisonment on Wednesday, July 9 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Luke Ferguson, 32, of Becklow Road, Shepherd’s Bush, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Thursday, November 21 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 years’ 5 months imprisonment on Wednesday, July 9 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
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