Three jailed over ice cream cocaine plot
19 May 2014 11:40 AM
Three Albanian men have
been sentenced to 20 years each for their roles in a conspiracy to import high
purity cocaine into the United Kingdom.
Sdamet Gjorllaka, aged 26, from
London, Sadri Lika, aged 31, from Bristol, and Adriatik Spahia, aged 26, from
London, were jailed at Maidstone Crown Court this week following an
investigation by the Middle Market Drugs Partnership (MMDP), in partnership
with Slovenian, Dutch and French police.
In October 2013 investigators
observed a Slovenian registered refrigerated lorry parked in a lay-by on the
A1306 near Rainham, Essex. Spahia was arrested and a search revealed 18 kilos
of cocaine concealed within a legitimate load of ice cream.
Gjorllaka and Lika were in
another vehicle, which was seen near the lay-by, and were arrested after
boarding a bus in Dagenham.
Steve Robinson, from the MMDP
said " The conviction and sentencing of these men is a significant victory
in the fight against organised crime.
"The MMDP will continue to
disrupt the unlawful activities of any criminals who seek to import and
distribute drugs throughout London."
The Middle Market Drugs
Partnership (MMDP) brings together officers from the NCA and the Metropolitan
Police Service to protect the communities of London from the harms inflicted by
drug dealing