FOUR men have been charged for allegedly being involved in an Albanian crime gang after £700,000 of drugs and cash were found in raids.

The National Crime Agency, along with the Metropolitan Police, carried out raids across London and Essex on Wednesday.

Two men were arrested at a property in Cambridge Road North, Chiswick, on suspicion of money laundering after officers recovered a bag containing approximately £100,000 cash.

Another man was arrested for immigration and drug supply offences whilst searching a property on Trotwood, Hainault, where a further £140,000 in cash and a cutting agent for cocaine was seized.

A fourth man was arrested for drug offences after four kilos of cocaine were found at another property, along with approximately £100,000 in cash.

Rrustem Dauti, 30, Fisnik Kurtucai, 32, Florian Meshi, 22, and Azem Gashi, 26, have all been charged in connection to the raids with various drug, immigration and money laundering offences.

The four appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Friday where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance at Isleworth Crown Court on February 12.

The agency's Organised Crime Partnership Operations Manager Matt McMillan said: “The NCA and Met continue to work in partnership to detect and apprehend individuals suspected of profiting from drug trafficking.

“These were large cash seizures, with the ability to cause serious disruption to serious and organised crime.”