Gang jailed over £200m of cocaine in banana boxes

Zhutev, Diko and Kuci were all arrested and subsequently charged with importing Class A drugs, as well as possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Diko and Kuci pleaded guilty to the charges, but Zhutev was cleared of the firearm and ammunition offences after a trial in 2023.

Jurors failed to reach a verdict on the drugs importation charges and a retrial took place this summer.

Kuci, described as a “trusted member of the operation”, was jailed for 21 years and Diko, who also moved to the UK from Albania and had worked as a mechanic, for 18 years.

Zhutev changed his plea to guilty in September and has now been sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Muci, who the NCA described as one of the scheme’s principle organisers, was found guilty of smuggling and jailed for 26 years. He received a further consecutive sentence of seven years for supplying Class A drugs.

Ebeja, who the NCA said was the intended lookout and driver, was found guilty of smuggling Class A drugs at the same trial, but the jury failed to reach a verdict on the charge of supplying them. He was sentenced to 17 years behind bars.

Sentencing them earlier, Judge Rebecca Trowler KC said the importation had been “plainly the work of an organised crime group with international elements”.

The CPS said it would start proceedings to reclaim the money made from the crimes.