Four members of an organised crime group (OCG) operating a county lines drug network in North Yorkshire have been ordered to pay back more than £115,048.
The leader Ermal Biba (40), alongside key members of the group, Allaman Tatariku (37), Klajdi Lleshi (25), and Adam Sarkowski (43) were originally sentenced to over 31 years imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court in August 2023.
This was for conspiracy to supply Class A (cocaine) and Class B (cannabis) drugs. They operated in Harrogate as well as the surrounding areas.
Biba was sentenced to 13 years and 6 months imprisonment for Conspiring to Supply Class A and Class B drugs.
Lleshi was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months imprisonment, Tatariku received 7 years and 1 month imprisonment, and Sarkowski received 4 years and 7 months imprisonment.
At the time of sentencing, a timetable for Confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was set.
An investigation was carried out by North Yorkshire Police Economic Crime Unit to identify assets held by the defendants.
With assistance from the CPS and liaison between Albanian Authorities and the UK Home Office, they identified assets held by Ermal Biba in Albania including a house, for Confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
At Leeds Crown Court on 28 March 2025 Biba received a Confiscation Order demanding repayment of £108,566.07 having benefited by £4,542,888.91 from his illegal activities, the repayment amount is based on current assets.
The order made for £108,566.07 must be paid within three months, or a default sentence of two years will be added to Biba’s existing sentence.
The other drug members had previously received Confiscation Orders in 2024, totalling £6482.35.
Katharine Wells, a Financial Investigator at North Yorkshire Police Economic Crime Unit said:
“North Yorkshire Police use Confiscation Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure offenders do not continue to benefit from a lifestyle fuelled by crime.
We will continue to gather evidence and use the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation to investigate the funds of criminals and confiscate any assets or monies we believe they have accrued through their criminal activities.”