An Albanian drug dealer was caught selling cocaine through Facebook and TikTok in a police sting operation, highlighting the growing use of social media by organised crime groups. The dealer, part of the wider Albanian mafia network that has taken control of the UK's £5bn cocaine trade, used the platforms to advertise and arrange deals.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned that Albanian gangs are consolidating power in the UK criminal underworld, with a near total takeover of the cocaine market. These groups have bypassed traditional wholesalers by negotiating directly with Colombian cartels, securing cocaine for as little as £4,000 to £5,500 per kilo, compared to the £22,500 rivals paid through Dutch suppliers.
This strategy has led to cheaper and purer cocaine on UK streets, with record fatalities and the highest number of young users in Europe. The NCA's former head of drugs threat and intelligence, Tony Saggers, noted that the Albanians have 'shown that you don't have to be greedy to dominate drug markets' by offering sustainable prices and good quality.
Street-level gangs like Hellbanianz, based on east London's Gascoigne estate, operate as the 'retail game' for the Albanian mafia, using social media to enhance their reputation and recruit young dealers. The dealer in this sting was found to be using Facebook and TikTok to sell cocaine, demonstrating the ease with which these platforms can be exploited for illegal trade.
