A 29-year-old man, a recent father, was found dead, severely beaten, with his hands tied and a noose around his neck. RT was kidnapped, tortured and murdered, his body abandoned in an open area as a warning sign linked to a cannabis plantation. Eight people were arrested for his murder, who were temporarily released pending trial.
Authorities suspect the murder is linked to organised crime groups that control Britain's illegal drug trade, worth around £5 billion a year. These gangs have established direct links with Colombian cartels and maintain close ties with the Italian mafia, which has dominated drug trafficking in Europe for decades.
In 2023, as part of a major operation to crack down on organised crime, the National Crime Agency and 43 police forces in England and Wales seized more than 200,000 cannabis plants worth £130 million, 26kg of cocaine, 20 guns and over £600,000 in cash. In total, 900 people were arrested, with 450 of them formally charged.
The forensic examination revealed that RT had been hit nine times on the head with a heavy object, and had multiple fractures to his arms and left leg. Investigations showed that he had tried to resist his attackers, but was eventually strangled with a rope. His killers did not even bother to cover his body.
The mother of RT, also known as “V.”, testified that her son worked as a delivery boy, although he initially intended to study at the University of Salford. He changed his mind when he learned that he was going to be a father. In the final hours before his murder, he seemed restless and thoughtful, according to his mother, who said: “He was very quiet. I didn’t know what was on his mind. I miss him every day.”
Police investigations revealed that RT and others attempted to rob a cannabis farm in Manchester in the early hours of May 13, 2021. The owners caught wind of them and responded violently. RT attempted to flee in a white van, but crashed into a wall. The assailants dragged him from his vehicle and forced him into another car. During the abduction, he managed to call for help, but all that could be heard were the sounds of struggle. This was the last evidence that he was alive.
Shortly after the murder, authorities began investigating the possibility of gang involvement in the crime. Similar incidents have occurred in the past. A 23-year-old man, TW, was killed in a similarly violent manner in Cardiff in 2021 when he tried to steal cannabis plants. He was found with 25 head injuries and severe bruises all over his body. JN and MD were sentenced to 20 and 16 years in prison respectively for his murder, while HA received a 10-year sentence for manslaughter.
Another example of criminal violence is the case of MD, known as “Tony Montana”, who will serve a life sentence in the United Kingdom for a murder he committed in London in 1999. First, however, he must complete his imprisonment in Italy for a double murder and attempted murder in Sicily in 2002. He was also convicted in absentia in Albania for the murder of two people in 1997, shortly before moving to the United Kingdom, where he had obtained a residence permit as an “orphan”.
MD committed one of the most brutal crimes in Britain. His victim, SM, was stabbed and hacked 120 times because she had taken MD's wedding ring and given it to his partner. SM's body was found the next day by his partner, who was only able to identify him by his belt, as his body was disfigured by the injuries.
This case and many others reveal the brutality of criminal gangs, which continue to commit heinous murders to maintain control over their illegal activities.
