The seizure was believed to be one of the largest ever of its type in the UK

The cocaine haul (centre) and (clockwise from left) smugglers Petko Zhutev, Olsi Ebeja, Gjergji Diko and Bruno Kuci

Five members of an organised crime group that smuggled 2.3 tonnes of cocaine in a shipment of bananas from South America have been convicted.

The huge stash of drugs was hidden inside 41 pallets of bananas but was discovered by detectives in February 2021 at Agro Food Ltd in Crispin Industrial Estate, Advent Way, Edmonton. The seizure is believed to be one of the largest ever of its type in the UK.

Petko Zhutev, aged 39 and from Bulgaria, Gjergji Diko, aged 33 and from Italy, Albanian nationals Bruno Kuci, 33, Olsi Ebeja, 40, and Erik Muci, 44, were investigated by the Organised Crime Partnership (OCP) – a joint National Crime Agency and Metropolitan Police unit – who identified they were planning the importation.

The drugs had different branded stamps on them, which corresponded to particular organised crime groups that were going to sell them on the streets of London and elsewhere.

Border Force officers at Portsmouth International Port had originally found the cocaine after the OCP provided intelligence they would be arriving on a cargo ship from Turbo, Colombia, concealed within a legitimate consignment of bananas.

OCP officers removed the cocaine and followed the consignment of bananas until it reached its final destination in Edmonton.

Investigators identified that Zhutev had taken over as the director of the food company in December 2020. Although it was previously a legitimate business, he had acquired it solely to use as a front for criminality.

Muci was one of the principal organisers for the drugs importation. He was observed meeting with Zhutev, Kuci and Diko at Agro Foods and arranged the delivery and installation of equipment to support the pretence that it was a legitimate enterprise.

Investigation into the mobile devices used by the crime group showed Muci controlled the importation and ongoing supply of significant quantities of cocaine across the UK.

After Zhutev, Kuci and Diko accepted the consignment, armed officers used a circular saw to enter the locked premises during a raid that resulted in their arrest.

Empty banana boxes had been strewn over the floor of the unit, a result of desperate attempts to find the drugs and move them from the site.

The men had constructed dozens of cardboard boxes which they had intended to use to pack with cash generated by drug sales. Officers also found nine empty suitcases which the drugs were destined to be packed into for onwards supply.

A firearm with five rounds of live ammunition was found hidden behind a ceiling beam, along with numerous mobile devices which had been concealed around the premises.

Ebeja was the intended lookout and driver for the drugs, and was arrested near Agro Foods as he waited inside a hire van. Ebeja was employed by Muci to act as a courier supplying drugs across the UK.

Following the arrests, OCP officers searched a flat associated to Diko, Ebeja and Muci, during which they found 37 kilos of cocaine and ammunition for the firearm.

Officers arrested Ebeja at an address in central London in October 2023. Muci was arrested outside an address in Hornchurch the following month.

John Coles, head of specialist operations at the NCA, said: “We work with partners at home and overseas to target organised criminals at the top of the chain and who pose the greatest risk to the UK, and the NCA is committed to disrupting their activities.

“These men attempted to bring a huge amount of cocaine into the country – one of the largest hauls of its kind on UK soil – which was destined for crime groups across London and the wider UK, and the seizure stemmed from a thorough investigation by NCA and Met Police officers.”

Detective Superintendent Simon Moring, from the Metropolitan Police, said: “This seizure would have been broken down into many millions of individual deals of cocaine. This level of violence, mental and physical health problems and anti-social behaviour that would have ensued across London and the UK would have been significant.

“This seizure highlights the relentless drive by the Met Police, the NCA and wider UK law enforcement to tackle the illegal supply of drugs.”

Diko and Kuci pleaded guilty to drugs, firearms and ammunition offences at the Old Bailey in October 2021 and April 2023 respectively. Both men admitted charges in relation to the weapon and ammunition found at the industrial unit and Diko to the ammunition found at the flat.

Zhutev, from Beckton, was cleared of the firearms and ammunition offences at the same court in July last year, following a two-month trial. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on drugs importation offences and he was re-tried for these. However, he changed his plea to guilty on 17th September.

Ebeja and Muci were convicted last Thursday (10th), having faced trial alongside him for the first time. Ebeja and Muci were found guilty of conspiracy to import class A drugs. Muci was also found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs, in relation to the cocaine found in the flat.

A sentencing date for all five men is yet to be confirmed.

OCP has been in operation for 20 years and is comprised of equal numbers of specialist NCA officers and Metropolitan Police detectives. The team works to stop the flow of drugs to the criminal market in London, target upstream criminals that impact on London, as well as disrupting those overseas that make huge profits from this illegal activity.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.