Drug Duo Busted in £361 Million UK Cocaine and Heroin Plot
Denis Xhelili, 38, teamed up with Sulaiman Bawa, 53, from Feltham, London, to run a cargo firm fronting a massive drug smuggling operation. They used Bawa’s company, Airport Cargo Care, to import cocaine and heroin into the UK via air freight from South America, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Hollow Pallets: The Secret Smuggling Method
Xhelili’s contacts overseas hid huge drug hauls inside hollowed-out pallets shipped straight to Bawa’s company. During their trial in December 2022, prosecutors revealed they planned to bring in 3,058 kg of cocaine and 2,357 kg of heroin.
If sold on the streets, these drugs were worth a staggering £361 million.
Encrypted Chats Blow Their Cover
The pair tried to stay one step ahead using the encrypted messaging app Encrochat. But thanks to Operation Venetic, law enforcement seized Encrochat servers and exposed thousands of criminal messages.
Xhelili, linked to the handle ‘QUAILSTAR’, denied ever using Encrochat. However, police found a calendar reminder on his phone about a charger delivery for the exact device he owned. Photos from the phone showed his living room, tattooed arm, watch, clothes, and his distinctive orange car.
During police questioning, Xhelili claimed he couldn’t read or write English, despite his phone being set to English.
Bawa Caught Red-Handed, Jailed 7.5 Years
Bawa, known as ‘PARKPOINT’ on Encrochat, ran a customs clearance company near London’s Heathrow Airport. Investigators matched a reflection of a unique light shade in an Encrochat photo to one in his bedroom.
He was locked up for seven-and-a-half years in April.
Xhelili Slapped with 10 Years Behind Bars
At Chichester Crown Court, Xhelili was handed a ten-year prison sentence plus another ten years on licence.
The ruthless duo’s slick scheme went up in smoke thanks to sharp police work and the Encrochat crackdown.
