Organised crime group appear in court over drug offences

Daniela Sopiku, 26, formerly of Newport Street, Old Town, Swindon, previously pleaded guilty to the possession of false ID documentation with improper intent, and during a trial at Swindon Crown Court also pleaded guilty to the acquisition and use of criminal property.
Hysen Sopiku, 21, also formerly of Newport Street, Old Town, previously pleaded guilty to all charges put to him including being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, possession of criminal property, two counts of driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and without insurance, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of an article for use in fraud.
Alvaro Vrapi, 18, of no fixed address, previously pleaded guilty to the possession of false ID documentation with improper intent and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
A police spokesperson said: "Officers have been carrying out an operation into the trio’s criminality over an extended period of time involving covert methods which uncovered their involvement in the supply of cocaine across county towns in Wiltshire during 2025 and 2026.
"In June, police arrested Hysen Sopiku and Vrapi after they were found inside a Nissan Qashqai engaging in drug transactions. 
"Drug caches totalling over £11,000 were also found in locations they had visited that day – Biddestone and Giddeahall, near Chippenham.
"Later that day, Daniela Sopiku was arrested in Old Town and subsequent searches located drugs paraphernalia, large sums of cash and extravagant designer goods, as well as false identity documentation including a fake Italian passport in Daniela’s name, confirmed by immigration as fraudulent. 
"Vrapi was also found to be using fraudulent documents to open bank accounts used in criminal activity.
"Further financial enquiries established the trio had received unexplained income totalling more than £53,000. 
"All three individuals were in the country illegally and had no legitimate source of income."
One of the officers involved in the investigation, Detective Constable Jordan Gratton, said: “This organised crime group was responsible for supplying cocaine across communities in Wiltshire and sought to conceal its criminal activity through the use of fraudulent identity documents and illicitly obtained funds.
“Through a lengthy and proactive investigation using a range of covert tactics, officers were able to gather compelling evidence of the group's offending and disrupt the harm they were causing.
“Today's result demonstrates our commitment to targeting organised criminality, bringing offenders before the courts and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of illegal drugs.”
The trio will be sentenced on 18 November.
 

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