Drug and immigrant trafficking, members of the Albanian gang in England are sentenced to over 20 years in prison (NAMES+PHOTOS)

A group of Albanians have been sentenced in England, as they were involved in migrant trafficking and cannabis cultivation.

A major investigation has been conducted against them for links to organized crime, while their identities have also been revealed.

Dritan Meta , 43, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic illegal immigration into the UK at Reading Crown Court on April 15 this year. He had previously pleaded guilty to manufacturing cannabis in the same court on March 20.

Ilir Kodra , 49, pleaded guilty to the same immigration offense on May 20.

Refik Skepi , 45, pleaded guilty to cannabis production on March 20.

Visar Elezaj , 39, of Balfour Road, Oxford, was found guilty of producing cannabis after a five-week trial, which ended on April 18.

At a hearing at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, the ringleader, Meta, was jailed for a total of 11 years, while Skepi was jailed for six years.

Kodra was imprisoned for four years and seven months, while Elezaj was imprisoned for three years and six months.

The Oxford-based investigation began in April 2022, where officers identified a large-scale drug supply and cultivation of cannabis nationally.

It was during this investigation that evidence was discovered about the transport of emigrants from Dunkirk to France to Great Britain, using dinghies.

The investigation revealed that Meta and Kodra were involved in the crossing of at least three migrants on August 16, 2022. This crime involved a total of 49 people, five of whom were children under the age of ten, crossing the English Channel.

Three of the migrants on board the boat were helped by Kodra and Meta to enter the UK. The UK coastguard rescued the migrants as the boat began to sink in the Channel, but none on board.

The drug cultivation investigation revealed that Meta, Skepi and Elezaj had taken control of a large industrial unit in Essex.

During this control it was discovered that it was a very sophisticated cannabis factory, cultivating around 1000 plants. The market value of the drugs was between £1.3m and £1.6m.

Two other addresses in Oxford were also identified as pubs during the investigation, linked to Meta and Elezaj. In total, about 200 kg of cannabis were found.

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

visar elezaj

refik skepi

ilir kodra

dritan meta