NCA reports sentencing of drug dealer in connection with Operation Venetic

Article summary

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has reported that Xhuljan Shehu, has been sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on 29 September 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to import cocaine at the same court on 22 March 2022. This investigation formed part of Operation Venetic, the UK law enforcement response to the July 2020 takedown of the EncroChat encrypted communication service. NCA investigators found that Shehu had used the encrypted communications platform EncroChat to supply 30 kilos of cocaine, with a street value of £1.05m. The NCA has said that further investigation uncovered that Shehu had used a fraudulent Greek passport to secure the tenancy on the flat used to orchestrate the criminal behaviour and that Shehu possessed a bank card in the same name.