Gang sentenced over bulk supply of cannabis

11 hours ago

Holly PhillipsEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — (Left to right) Patryk Gilwanowski, Gazmir Hameti, Armir Metaj and Endri Arifaj were involved in a county lines drug operation

Humberside Police Police custody shots of Patryk Gilwanowski, Gazmir Hameti, Armir Metaj and Endri Arifaj (left to right). Patryk Gilwanowski is wearing a black top and has short, combed, brown hair and facial hair. Gazmir Hameti is wearing a blue hoodie and has short brown hair and greying facial hair. Armir Metaj is wearing a black T-shirt and has short black hair and black facial hair. Endri Arifaj is wearing a black top and has brown hair and facial hair. They are all stood in front of a grey wall. — (Left to right) Patryk Gilwanowski, Gazmir Hameti, Armir Metaj and Endri Arifaj were involved in a county lines drug operation

Five people have been sentenced for their part in the bulk supply of cannabis across Hull and East Yorkshire.

Armir Metaj, Patryk Gilwanowski, Endri Arifaj, Gazmir Hameti and Manuela Metaj were sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday.

Humberside Police said the organised crime group used encrypted messaging platforms to hide their county lines drugs operation, and fake vehicle insurance policies to travel across London, Rugby, Sheffield and Middlesbrough.

PC Claire Dobson said: "We know the impact that drug supply and organised crime have on our communities, from exploitation and violence to the wider harm it brings. Dismantling these networks remains a priority."

The force said Metaj, 30, of Roscoe Street, Middlesbrough, was the ringleader of the operation and controlled the drugs line.

He was jailed for five years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Metaj was also charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine but was found not guilty after a nine-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court.

Humberside Police A police custody shot of Manuela Metaj. She has long, brown hair and is standing in front of a grey wall, looking at the camera. — Manuela Metaj, of Begonia Way, Rugby, was found guilty of possession of criminal property

Patryk Gilwanowski, 34, of Wordsworth Street, Hull, Endri Arifaj, 35, of no fixed abode, and Gazmir Hameti, 46, of Richmond Road, Hessle, all admitted to conspiracy to supply cannabis at an earlier hearing.

Gilwanowski was jailed for two and a half years, Arifaj received a one year and eight month sentence, and Hameti was jailed for one year and seven months.

Manuela Metaj, 33, of Begonia Way, Rugby, was found guilty of possession of criminal property following a nine-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court. She was also charged with conspiracy to supply cannabis but was found not guilty.

Metaj was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for one year.

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