WIREDGOV

Three Albanian men have been jailed over a plot to supply high purity cocaine worth £506,000 and having false identity documents.

Endri Cena, 26, and Denis Markeci, 29, both admitted possession with intent to supply class A drugs and possessing false identity documents after being caught in December last year. They were jailed for seven years and five years eight months respectively.

Dorian Zili, 25, faced one charge of possessing false identity documents and was sentenced to six months when the trio appeared at Bristol Crown Court.

NCA officers moved in to arrest the three men – all illegal immigrants and of no fixed abode - on 6 December as Zili left a property in Britton Gardens, Bristol, where the other two men were.

Markeci also left the property to get in a VW Golf, and as he was arrested he tried to escape and caused a violent scuffle with officers. A package of cocaine was found in the Golf.

Cena, who was carrying a rucksack with four packages of cocaine inside, tried to escape from the Britton Gardens property through a ground-floor back window. As he was caught he also violently tried to escape but was restrained by officers.

The property was searched and false identity documents were found including four Italian and two Romanian identity cards, and illicit bank cards. Around £6,300 in cash was recovered and the flat appeared to be used as a drugs warehouse, containing wrapping, latex gloves and scales showing trace amounts of the cutting agent benzocaine.

In total, officers found 6.3kg of cocaine with a street value of £506,000.

The NCA investigation was conducted in partnership with the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Phil Pestridge, NCA operations manager, yesterday said:

“Drugs fuel violence and increase crimes across our communities. It’s an NCA priority to relentlessly pursue groups and individuals trafficking class A substances.”

Upon completion of their sentences the men will be deported.