A massive drug trafficking ring operated by an Albanian national has been dismantled after authorities accessed encrypted communications via EncroChat, exposing the sale of over 832 kg of cocaine worth an estimated £81.6 million on the UK market.
Redon Bushi, 32, of Cherry Crescent, Brentford, was identified as the mastermind behind the criminal enterprise. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and possession of criminal property following an extensive investigation led by the Metropolitan Police and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA). On July 9, the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court sentenced him to 24 years and 10 months in prison.
Bushi ran multiple front businesses, including a car wash, bar, and beauty clinic, believed to be used for money laundering operations. His drug trafficking network had extensive links with importers and couriers, distributing cocaine across London and the UK.
Authorities penetrated Bushi’s communication network by accessing messages exchanged over EncroChat and Signal, where he operated under the username “Sealvermouth.” Despite his cautious methods—only sharing postcodes, times, and brief descriptions of contacts—detectives successfully intercepted and traced his network.
A major breakthrough came in June 2020, when police intercepted a vehicle driven by Ahmad Jabarkhill, 32, in Hounslow, recovering nearly £700,000 in cash. Surveillance and forensic analysis led to three more couriers:
- Arline Sida (23, Amersham)
- Luke Ferguson (32, Shepherd’s Bush)
- Kelvin Hoxha (23, Brentford)
Authorities uncovered sophisticated concealment compartments, fake IDs, and a remote surveillance camera monitoring a drug storage facility. In August 2023, police raided an address in Brentford, arresting Sida and Hoxha and seizing six kilos of cocaine. Ferguson was later arrested in a safe house with 72 kilos of cocaine, valued at £6.24 million.
Even after his associates were arrested, Bushi attempted to evade capture by moving between hotels, buying a new phone, and carrying £3,000 in cash. He continued to issue instructions to his team to monitor police activity via surveillance cameras. He was eventually tracked and arrested in Reading.
Sentences:
- Redon Bushi – 24 years and 10 months
- Ahmad Jabarkhill – 2 years and 3 months
- Arline Sida – 12 years and 9 months
- Kelvin Hoxha – 11 years and 8 months
- Luke Ferguson – 14 years and 5 months
Detective Constable David Leitner, who led the investigation, stated:
“This case highlights our unwavering resolve to dismantle organised crime. EncroChat gave us unprecedented access to evidence that exposed Bushi’s operations and brought a major network to justice.”
