A ruthless gang that tried to smuggle cocaine worth £200 million, concealed in a cargo of bananas from Colombia, has been brought to justice.
The huge shipment – one of the largest drug hauls ever seized in the UK – was intercepted at Portsmouth Port in February 2021. The National Crime Agency (NCA) led the operation, and undercover officers posing as lorry drivers transported dummy crates to a warehouse in north London, setting a clever trap for the gang.
Petko Zhutev, Gjergji Diko, and Bruno Kuci admitted to their involvement in the smuggling plot, while Erik Muci and Olsi Ebeja were convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey.
The bananas were imported by Agro Food Ltd, a company with a five-year history of trading in fresh produce. In December 2020, the company changed ownership, with Bulgarian national Zhutev appointed as its director. The NCA stated that Zhutev had entered the UK specifically to acquire a legitimate business as a front for drug trafficking.
Unbeknown to Zhutev, the NCA had intercepted the shipment and replaced the cocaine with bananas and listening devices. The dummy crates were delivered to the firm’s Edmonton warehouse, where Zhutev received them, unaware he was being closely monitored. When armed officers raided the warehouse, they found the dummy crates set aside, with some boxes already opened.
Inside the unit, officers also uncovered a loaded black Turkish Ozkursan revolver – a chilling reminder of the lengths the gang was prepared to go to protect their operation.
Zhutev, Diko, and Kuci were arrested and charged with importing Class A drugs, along with possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Diko and Kuci pleaded guilty to all charges, but Zhutev was cleared of firearm offences after his 2023 trial. Jurors initially failed to reach a verdict on the drug importation charges, prompting a retrial over the summer.
Bruno Kuci, described by authorities as a “trusted member of the operation,” received a 21-year prison sentence. Gjergji Diko, who had moved from Albania and previously worked as a mechanic, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
Petko Zhutev, after changing his plea to guilty in September, received a sentence of 27 years in prison.
Erik Muci, deemed by the NCA as one of the principal organisers of the scheme, was convicted of smuggling and sentenced to 26 years. He also received an additional consecutive seven-year term for supplying Class A drugs.
Olsi Ebeja, described as the intended lookout and driver, was convicted of smuggling Class A drugs. The jury, however, could not reach a verdict on the charge of supplying drugs. Ebeja was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
In sentencing, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC underscored the gravity of the crime, declaring that the smuggling attempt was “plainly the work of an organised crime group with international elements.”
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that it will now begin proceedings to reclaim the ill-gotten gains of those involved.
This sophisticated operation, foiled through meticulous planning and undercover work, highlights the relentless battle against international organised crime. The NCA's efforts have not only led to significant convictions but have also dealt a major blow to the criminals who sought to flood the UK with dangerous drugs.
The gang’s downfall serves as a powerful warning: law enforcement will stop at nothing to bring those who exploit legitimate businesses as a cover for their illegal enterprises to justice.
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