Five members of an organised crime group were jailed on February 13, 2026, for their roles in a large cannabis production and distribution network in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. An investigation by Essex Police uncovered multiple growing sites and seized drugs with a total value of up to £255,000.
Officers discovered the illegal operations at residential properties located in Aragon Close in Southend and Rochford Avenue in Westcliff. The group used a professional insurance broker based in Brentwood, Simon Jackson, to create fake car insurance policies which allowed them to move drugs and cash across the country with less risk of being caught.
Sefedin Tafa, a 33-year-old from Cardigan Avenue in Westcliff, was identified as a leader of the group and received a sentence of four and a half years in prison. Other members, including Asterjo Sata, Servet Dobrushi, and Reols Havalja, also received prison sentences for their parts in the illegal activity.
Detectives used forensic evidence to link the group to the drug sites, including fingerprints found on a mobile phone screen and jars used to hold cash. While five people have been sentenced, a primary leader named Eldi Tafa remains a fugitive and is believed to be hiding outside of the United Kingdom.
Local authorities expect that removing this criminal group will lead to a reduction in drug-related disorder in the community. Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour to help keep the area safe while the final suspect remains at large.
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