Men part of Oxford-based Organised Crime Group jailed

The sentencing hearing at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday (September 3) followed a major investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Drugs and Serious Organised Crime Unit (DSOC) into a sophisticated Albanian Organised Crime Group (OCG).

The Oxford men are among four who have been given significant prison sentences for facilitating illegal immigration and cannabis cultivation.

Visar Elezaj, aged 39, of Balfour Road, Oxford, has been jailed for three years and six months after being found guilty by a majority verdict of production of cannabis.

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This followed a five-week trial which concluded on April 18.

Ilir Kodra, aged 49, of Boundary Brook Road, Oxford, was jailed for four years and seven months after he pleaded guilty to the conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law on May 20. 

Ringleader of the OCG, Dritan Meta, 43, of Meadow View Road, Kennington, was sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the same immigration offence at Reading Crown Court on April 15 this year.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to production of cannabis at the same court on March 20. 

Refik Skepi, aged 45, of Thornton Road, Reading, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to production of cannabis on March 20. 

The investigation by DSOC into the Oxford-based OCG commenced in April 2022, where the officers observed and evidenced a large-scale drug supply and cultivation of cannabis nationally.

The cannabis factory found in Essex (Image: Thames Valley Police)

It was during this investigation that evidence was uncovered surrounding the transportation of migrants from Dunkirk in France to the UK, using small inflatable boats.

The investigation found that Meta and Kodra were heavily involved in organising and facilitating at least three migrants crossing on August 16 2022. 

This offence involved a total of 49 people, five of whom were children under 10-years-old, crossing the English Channel.

Three of the migrants on board the boat were assisted by Kodra and Meta to gain entry to the UK.

The UK coastguard were involved in the rescue of the migrants after the boat began to sink in the Channel, but none of the people on board were injured and were escorted safely to the UK.

The investigation into the drug cultivation found that Meta, Skepi and Elezaj had gained control of a large industrial unit in South Fambridge in Essex, which was subject to a warrant.

During this search, the industrial-sized unit was found to be a highly sophisticated and large-scale cannabis factory, cultivating some 1,000 plants.

The street market value of the drugs was between £1.3m and £1.6m.

Two other addresses in Oxford, in Masons Road and Cranmer Road, were also identified as cannabis factories during the investigation.

These address were linked back to Meta and Elezaj, and the investigation found that the OCG had multi-kilo cannabis customers across Oxfordshire and the UK.

In total, approximately 200kg of cannabis was located.

The cannabis factory found in Essex (Image: Thames Valley Police)

Following their arrests, Meta and Kodra were charged on September 3 2023, while Skepi and Elezaj were charged on September 12.

Detective Inspector of the Drugs and Serious Organised Crime Unit, Natalie Hall said: “Thames Valley Police is absolutely committed to dismantling the most serious organised crime threats.

“This investigation into significant drug cultivation also uncovered as a result of the investigation the facilitation of bringing migrants into the UK illegally via the English Channel.

“It was only through good fortune that the people being illegally brought into the country in this case did not come to harm, thanks to the swift actions of the Coastguard.

“This sentencing justly reflects the seriousness of organised immigration crime.

“The circumstances of this case could have resulted in serious loss of life in the Channel, and our team have also removed a hugely significant amount of cannabis from the supply chain.

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“We will continue to target organised criminality, which puts individuals, families and communities at risk of harm.

“We would encourage with anybody with any information about any similar crimes to report it directly to police, which you can do so in confidence, or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“I am pleased that this criminal gang will now spend years behind bars for their offending, and I hope that this goes a long way to reassuring our communities of our dedication to tackling serious organised crime.”