The trio were part of a seven-strong organised crime group who illegally trafficked Albanian men to the UK

Clockwise from top left; Dimitraki Nika, Arlin Leka, Doru-Emil Moldovan, Kristian Agolli, Aldis Cseplye, Sorin Holerca, Jozef Szekely

A “sophisticated” organised crime group based in Enfield illegally trafficked Albanian men into the UK.

Seven men were involved in the conspiracy to facilitate the illegal entry of people from Albania into the UK by hiding them in lorries.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police, in partnership with the Home Office, carried out a “complex investigation” which identified the men conspiring to traffic illegal immigrants into the UK between January and May 2021.

Detective Constable Steve Willis, from the Met’s specialist crime command, said: “This is the first time this legislation has been used in the Met. As a team we recognised this criminality and worked together to identify the correct newly introduced legislation to enable us to charge these men.

“This case highlights the united front of law enforcement.”

The seven men – three of them from Enfield borough – were all sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 22nd).

From August 2020 detectives targeted their investigation in Enfield, including Southgate, as well as motorway service areas in south-east England, along with Wellingborough in Lincolnshire. This followed intelligence gathering in partnership with safer neighbourhoods team investigating cannabis factories across Brent, West London. All the factories were closed down. This discovery enabled the investigation team to identify a simple business model being used by the organised crime group who arranged for other criminals to enter the UK.

This included Romanian registered goods vehicles entering into the UK, unusually via Dunkirk to Dover with Albanian men hidden in the cab area. These vehicles then stopped at services stations where the smuggled men met a representative from the organised crime group. On occasion, the goods driver was given a small package before returning to his vehicle and leaving the venue, continuing on his route. The smuggled men would then travel on, usually returning to the Southgate area, before being passed to other Albanians.

Chris Foster, deputy director from the Home Office’s criminal and financial investigation unit, said: “This organised crime group is now behind bars thanks to the work between the Home Office and Metropolitan Police.

“We will continue to work closely with our policing partners to disrupt people-smuggling gangs and ensure those who abuse our laws face the consequences of their crimes.” 

With the evidence gathered, officers executed search warrants in Barnet, Enfield and Northamptonshire. The seven men were charged with offences in May 2021 and later appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Three of the offenders immediately pleaded guilty to their part in the conspiracy.

Dimitraki Nika, aged 35, a Greek national of Newsholme Drive, Oakwood, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for his part travelling to the service areas and receiving the men.

Arlin Leka, 29, an Albanian national of Ashfield Parade, Southgate, pleaded guilty to his part in the conspiracy arranging the passages into the UK and travelling to the service areas and receiving the men, as well as possession of criminal property, namely £13,000 cash. He was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

Doru-Emil Moldovan, 32, a Romanian national of an unknown address, pleaded guilty to his part in the conspiracy as a lorry driver, as well as possession of criminal property, namely £9,980 cash. He was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment.

Four further gang members were found guilty of conspiracy to do an act to facilitate the commission of breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national, contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977, following a six-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in May.

They were Kristian Agolli, 35, of Dudrich Mews, Enfield, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in receiving smuggled males and was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment; Aldis Cseplye, 33, of Pembroke Road in Hornsey, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in receiving smuggled males and was sentenced to two years and nine months’ imprisonment; Sorin Holerca, 40, from Swanscombe, was found guilty of conspiracy for his part in co-ordinating transport and was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment; Jozef Szekely, 33, a Romanian resident of an unknown address was found guilty of conspiracy for his part as a lorry driver and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

DC Willis said: “This was a highly complex, protracted investigation which would not have been possible without the support of Lincolnshire Police and our partners at the Home Office. The investigation utilised a host of different investigation techniques at our disposal and has dismantled a criminal network brining young Albanian males into the UK illegally.”

A number of other Albanian males were discovered in two addresses in Wellingborough in May and were dealt with by the government’s immigration service. It is believed none of the other Albanian men who illegally entered the UK were victims of human trafficking. They paid the organised crime group between £20,000 and £24,000 in cash to travel to the UK.

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