Vehicle Stop on Epsom Road Leads to Prolific Drug Gang Being Put Behind Bars

Published on: 23 Dec, 2024
Updated on: 23 Dec, 2024

A drug supply operation, commonly labelled a “county lines”, that stretched into Guildford, has been smashed by Surrey Police.

The investigation commenced following a vehicle stop on the Epsom Road in February. Officers stopped a silver Mercedes and the driver of the vehicle, Konstantinos Baltasis from Aldershot, was searched. Seventeen bags of cocaine were found concealed in his trousers. In the vehicle, £650 in cash was also discovered.

Baltasis’ phone was seized and found to contain messages telling him where to supply the drugs. He was charged, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and remanded into custody until sentencing.

Then on April 8, officers stopped a white Fiat Panda on The Chase near Guildford Cathedral. The driver, Robert Zeqaj of no fixed abode, was searched and 27 sealed bags of cocaine were found within the door of the vehicle. His mobile phone was also seized and was found to contain messages directing him to locations to supply class A drugs. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs and remanded into custody until sentencing.

Detectives realised that the phones seized from the drug dealers were linked to the home address of Fatjon Nezaj, of Cowleaze Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames. Police searched the address on August 8 2024 and seized mobile phones and lists detailing customers who were being supplied class A drugs.

Together the results revealed a “county lines” drugs line that was operating in West Surrey. “County lines” is the term used to describe urban gangs supplying drugs to suburban areas using dedicated mobile phones for communications.

Further investigation into phone records revealed that Nezaj had been both receiving orders for cocaine from customers and then directing the couriers telling them where to deliver the drugs. He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs (Cocaine) and was remanded in custody until sentencing.

Guildford Crown Court

The drugs gang members are now off the streets; they were all imprisoned last Friday (December 20) at Guildford Crown Court:

Konstantinos Baltasis received two years imprisonment with three months to run concurrently for money laundering. He also received six points on his driving licence for no insurance and a further three points for driving without a licence.
Robert Zeqaj received two years imprisonment. He also received six points for driving without insurance and a further three points for driving without a licence.
Fatjon Nezaj received three years and six months imprisonment.
As foreign nationals, all three will be deported on release from custody.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Daniel Voller said: “This conviction has helped to disrupt county lines within our county, protecting our local communities, and keeping people safe.

“We are committed to relentlessly pursuing criminals and officers are working hard to tackle county lines by targeting offenders, taking drugs off the streets, and safeguarding vulnerable victims.

“Your information is vital in allowing us to keep on closing down these drug lines, so if you have any information regarding drug dealing or violent crime in your area, or you are worried that someone is being exploited, we need you tell us. If you would rather not speak to police, please reach out to the anonymous and fully independent charity Crimestoppers. Together we can stop the flow of drugs into our county.”

For more information about how to spot and report drug dealing in your community, click here https://www.surrey.police.uk/…/advice…/cl/county-lines/