FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
From fining local businesses to controlling the multi-billion dollar cocaine market, a sophisticated criminal network has spread its tentacles across north London. While residents live in the shadow of “Omertà” and extreme violence, the quiet area of Southgate is becoming a bastion where the law of the road defies British authorities…
In a quiet, leafy suburb of north London, a dense criminal activity simmers beneath the surface, led by Albanian groups. Organized crime figures control networks of extortion, human trafficking and drug distribution, mainly in the area around Southgate tube station.
This noisy and relatively affluent neighborhood has become a "stronghold" for criminal networks, according to sources for Metro. Criminals are using the threat of extreme violence to subdue the local community.
An increasing number of restaurants and businesses are facing demands for "protection money," and in some cases are being forced to hand over their premises to Albanian gangs.
The gangsters' control over the community is so strong that locals call the area around the station "Little Tirana." Sources confirm that residents are too afraid to speak out, due to the wide spectrum of violence.
The murder of an Albanian drug boss by a rival in Battersea, southwest London, on Christmas Eve 2019 remains a clear example of how the tentacles of Albanian organized crime penetrate every corner of the city.
How is this affecting the local community?
A source told Metro that few people dare to speak out for fear of reprisals. “The Albanian gangs have taken control of the community and the fear of physical elimination is great. They have taken over some businesses and are threatening others,” he said. Their activity extends to human trafficking, extortion and drug dealing. It is clearly their territory and they are operating openly.
"We know who they are and where they operate. The police have been notified that they need to get the situation under control. This is an international criminal network that is 'colonizing' the area around Southgate station and is spreading throughout the main road," residents say.
The source added that shop owners are being harassed and threatened by gangsters who aim to expand their financial influence and create money laundering channels. “No one dares to speak out, but this is alienating the area. For example, Cypriot businesses that have been operating for generations are being forced to leave. People feel powerless,” they added.
The main focus of the police has been around Ashfield Parade, which is considered their local stronghold. Albanian trafficker Arlin Leka, who lived on this street, was jailed in 2023 after being found guilty of illegally trafficking Albanian nationals to the UK.
A local shopkeeper said he was “terrified” at the idea of clashing with these groups. He said: “I have been here for over 20 years and we never had any problems until two years ago. When the Albanian criminals came, the whole atmosphere changed. They want to take over every business. In Southgate and Cockfosters, they are making our lives impossible. Sometimes they pay people to cause vandalism or fights in front of shops, so that the owners are forced to close. Then the Albanians come into play. This has hit Greek Cypriot businesses particularly hard.”
Comparison with other groups
While areas like Tottenham and Wood Green are dominated by the Turkish “mafia”, Southgate and Cockfosters are ruled by Albanians. The two sides rarely clash, as other groups often fear the unrestrained violence of the Albanian gangs.
During a trial last year, it was learned that when some robbers attacked a “bar” run by Albanians. Their machetes and knives were powerless against the pistols that the Albanians used to defend the territory. Croydon Crown Court heard evidence that the robbers had “gone with knives into a gunfight”. Drug revenue fuels their operations. Street power is the key to controlling a large part of the cocaine market, which is estimated at £5 billion.
According to police, they buy the drug at prices of up to £5,000 per kilogram and initially sell it below market value to put rivals out of business. This industrial-scale supply has provided them with enough funds to "buy out" almost the entire community.
The rule of "Omertà" (silence), known to the Italian mafia, is also strictly enforced among the Albanians. They are known for torturing opponents and maintaining groups of "soldiers" who gather in cafes during the day, awaiting instructions to "take care of business."
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has put the leaders of these groups at the top of its agenda. But for the residents of Southgate, the nickname “Little Tirana” remains a symbol of daily fear.
A source in the ranks of security agencies emphasized: "Of course there are many honest Albanian businesses that respect the law. The problem is not nationality, but this dangerous criminal element that has taken root in our community." / Prepared by: Pamphlet
Keto janë mufka të fryra tej mase. Shqiptaret bejne punet më të renda e jetojne me djersen e ballit. Bile është krijuar gjenerata e re lindur ne Britani që janë djem e vajza te shkelqyer të shkolluar ne Universitetet më të mira qe punojne ne vende shume të rendesishme. Ku ka gjoba ne Londer e ryshfet me e ligjin e shtetit. Pse polici si e jona janë policet Britanike o injorante!? Nuk e di pse kjo zhurme që të rritet vlera e trimeria e Shqiptareve ne lartesine e Mic Sokolit e Selam Musait. Alabakeve ua gjen shpejt Englezi vendin ku e kane. Nuk janë Shqiptaret njerez të keqij se nje ne nje mije është bythemut. Çdo shtepi ka ndonje breke të palare por nuk ia tregon botes duke i tundur ne dritare siç beni ju faqezinj te medias. Me qellim provokoj ndonje polic se janë të njerezishem nuk e kane idene se ku është Shqiperia e ç’jane Shqiptaret. Komunitetet e tjera bejne kerdine me pislleqe të kalibrit nderkombetar. Sa për ata Qipriotet Turko-Greke që iken nga lufta ne Qipro me njeri tjetrin Ja aty ku thoni ju i kishin dyqanet ngjutur e putheshin me njeri tjetrin. Nxiten kurdet kur nisi lufta ne Kosove e bene demostrate të shfrenuar duke djegur shume automjete më ulurima të kethehen Shqiptaret ne Kosove.