Organised crime group supplied cocaine across Swindon

Six members of an organised crime group have been sentenced for supplying cocaine across Swindon.

The longest of the sentences handed to the men, described by Wiltshire Police as a western Balkan organised crime group, was of eight years' imprisonment. 

Following an investigation by the force's Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), a hearing at Swindon Crown Court saw the group jailed for between two and eight years.
In a six-month operation, codenamed Operation Young, officers from SOCU identified stash houses the group used to store cocaine, hides in vehicles used to conceal drugs, and identified key members of the group who would be used to carry out the day-to-day drugs activity of the group.
The group, fronted by Saimir Neziraj, controlled a cocaine line which used runners to supply cocaine users across the town.
In the model, Neziraj would collect the cash and restock the drugs line, named “Denzel”. Edmir Beqiri would warehouse the cocaine in Swindon and Ardian Gjeta and Jorgo Brachousai would carry out the day-to-day dealing.
On the evening of February 1, 2024, officers observed Neziraj driving to London where, in a quiet cul-de-sac in Barnet, he met with Ergys Abdyli, who was based in London.
Neziraj collected the cocaine from Abdyli, which was then transported back to Swindon and passed on to Beqiri for its safe retention.
Throughout the investigation, the 'Denzel' phone was held by Nertil Halili in Derbyshire, where Halili, with the assistance of Neziraj, would arrange the street dealing of the cocaine in Swindon.
In what the police described as a huge mistake by the group, in March 2024 officers from SOCU watched as Halili and Neziraj met in the West Bromwich area of the Midlands, where the 'Denzel' handset was passed from Halili to Neziraj.
Officers from Wiltshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary and the Met then carried out a co-ordinated series of morning raids in Swindon, Derby and north London during early March 2024 where large quantities of cash and drugs were seized and the defendants were arrested.
The investigation was subsequently developed and the defendants were charged with Class A drug offences and remanded into custody.
They pleaded guilty to all offences and received the following sentences:
Saimir Neziraj, 32, of Ridge Nether Moor, Swindon – being concerned in the supply of cocaine: Eight years imprisonment
Nertil Halili, 29, of Jackson Street, Derby – being concerned in the supply of cocaine and re-entry in breach of deportation order: Seven years and ten months imprisonment
Edmir Beqiri, 37, of Cricklade Road, Swindon – being concerned in the supply of cocaine: Three years and eight months imprisonment
Ergys Abdyli, 26, of Parkgate Mansions, London – being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of criminal property, perverting the course of justice, possessing false identification documents with intent: Five years and 11 months imprisonment
Ardian Gjeta, 26, of Westcot Place, Swindon – being concerned in the supply of cocaine and possession of criminal property: Two years and one month imprisonment
Jorgo Brachousai, 24, of Sea View Road, Skegness – being concerned in the supply of cocaine: 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The officer in the case, DC Hunt from SOCU, said: “As a team, we worked tirelessly for several months in identifying exactly how the group operated.
“It involved the analysis of communications data, hours of surveillance in identifying the hierarchy within the group and months of case work to bring the offenders in this case to justice.
“Cocaine is a destructive drug that plagues our communities. Its impact leaves a trial of destruction in its wake.
“I am confident that the impact of this operation has had a real impact on the supply of cocaine in Swindon.
“Keeping our communities safe is paramount and I make a request for members of our communities to come forward with any information they have regarding the supply of drugs.”
DS Mulliss, also from SOCU, said: “My staff are relentless in their drive to disrupt organised crime. This investigation took up many hours and no stone was left unturned in the investigation into this organised crime group.
“I support the comments of DC Hunt; we work on intelligence and the communities we serve are the best source for information to disrupt organised crime.”