Members of organised crime group behind Harrogate county lines drug network ordered to repay over £115,000

The leader Ermal Biba (aged 40), alongside key members of the group, Allaman Tatariku (aged 37), Klajdi Lleshi (aged 25), and Adam Sarkowski (aged 43), were originally sentenced to over 31 years in jail at Leeds Crown Court in August 2023 for conspiring to supply Class B drugs (cannabis) and Class A drugs (cocaine).

Biba was sentenced to 13 years and six months imprisonment for conspiring to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

Lleshi was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment, Tatariku received seven years and one month imprisonment, and Sarkowski received four years and seven months imprisonment.

At the time of sentencing, a timetable for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 was set.

An investigation was carried out by the North Yorkshire Police Economic Crime Unit to identify assets held by the defendants.

This was done with assistance from the CPS and through liaison between the Albanian authorities and the UK Home Office.

As a result, assets held by Ermal Biba in Albania – including a house – were identified for confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

At Leeds Crown Court on March 28, Biba received a Confiscation Order demanding repayment of £108,566.07, having benefitted by £4,542,888.91 from his illegal activities – the repayment amount is based on current assets.

The order made for £108,566.07 must be paid within three months, or a default sentence of two years will added to Biba’s existing sentence

The other drug members had previously received Confiscation Orders in 2024 totalling £6482.35.

Katharine Wells, Financial Investigator at North Yorkshire Police Economic Crime Unit, said: “North Yorkshire Police use Confiscation Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act to ensure offenders do not continue to benefit from a lifestyle fuelled by crime.

“We will continue to gather evidence and use the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation to investigate the funds of criminals and confiscate any assets or monies we believe they have accrued through their criminal activities."