Inside London’s Albanian ‘Mafia’ who bring fear to community dubbed ‘Little Tirana’
Inside London’s Albanian ‘Mafia’ who bring fear to community dubbed ‘Little Tirana’
Hidden beneath the tranquil streets of a northwest London neighborhood, a covert criminal network led by Albanians has established a stronghold, according to recent reports. This area, centered around Southgate Underground station, has become a hub for illicit activities including extortion, human smuggling, and drug trade.
Residents describe the community as a criminal fortress, with the Albanian gangsters employing intimidation tactics to maintain dominance. Local businesses, particularly eateries, are now subject to demands for protection payments, and some have been compelled to relinquish ownership of their premises to the organized group. The area’s reputation has earned it the moniker ‘Little Tirana,’ echoing the capital of Albania, due to the gang’s pervasive influence.
The threat of brutal violence looms large, deterring locals from speaking openly about the situation. A source noted that the gang’s grip on the community is so tight that even small-scale crimes are met with fear. The police have been informed of ongoing concerns, with operations reported in areas like Ashfield Parade, which is seen as the gang’s primary base.
“The Albanian gangs have a grip on the community and there is a lot of fear about being taken out [killed]. They have taken over some of the businesses and have threatened others. We know who they are and where they operate out of. It has been reported to the police that they need to get a grip of this. It’s an international crime network which is colonising the area around Southgate station and is spreading up the high street.”
Ahmed, a shopkeeper in the district, recounted how the atmosphere has shifted dramatically since the Albanian criminals arrived. “I’ve been here over two decades without issue, but now they’re making life tough for local shops. They sometimes pay people to create chaos, like vandalism or fights outside stores, until businesses shut down. Then they take over,” he said.
The gang’s reach extends beyond Southgate, with connections to drug dealing and people trafficking. In 2023, Albanian people smuggler Arlin Leka was sentenced to prison after being convicted of trafficking men from Albania to the UK. The police have also conducted raids on other addresses, confirming the gang’s presence in the area.
Meanwhile, the group’s operations are marked by a lack of extravagance. Unlike their counterparts in Tottenham and Wood Green, where the Turkish ‘Mafia’ is more visible, the Albanian mob operates with subtlety, blending into everyday life while exerting control. Their methods include financial pressure and physical threats, with even a prominent figure like Flamur Beqiri, 39, whose sister Misse has appeared in The Real Housewives of Cheshire, becoming a victim. Beqiri was shot dead in front of his family during a violent incident in Battersea, southwest London, on Christmas Eve 2019.
The crime network’s growing power has displaced long-standing Cypriot businesses, which have been operating shops for generations. Locals feel powerless, with the gangs’ influence reshaping the area’s economic landscape. As the Met continues to investigate, the Albanian mob’s presence remains a pressing concern in the region.
