Vitlum Hasanaj was apprehended last year
Carrington Walker Live News Journalist and Abigail Hunt
12:37, 01 Apr 2026Updated 12:59, 01 Apr 2026
A man has been arrested moments after stepping off a plane at Stansted Airport, bringing an end to a cocaine operation that has led to several members of his group being jailed.
Vitlum Hasanaj, 36, was detained on the runway by officers who intercepted him as he disembarked. Police said his arrest resulted in the collapse of the “Vito Line”, a network linked to around 100 cocaine transactions.
Officers moved in when his flight landed on June 30, bringing an end to an investigation that began on May 2, when undercover teams arrested three suspects and seized four mobile phones. Detectives said the evidence recovered helped reveal the scale of the operation.
Story from Jam Press (Arrested On Plane)
Pictured: Vitlum Hasanaj.
VIDEO: Dealer cuffed on Stansted runway as Vito Line trio jailed over 100 cocaine deals
A drug dealer got the shock of his life when he was arrested the moment he stepped off a plane with his gang later jailed over a major cocaine network.
Vitlum Hasanaj, 36, was met by police waiting with handcuffs on the tarmac at Stansted Airport.
The arrest marked the downfall of the so-called Vito Line a drug network linked to around 100 cocaine deals.
Officers swooped as soon as his flight landed on 30 June, bringing his operation crashing down.
The gang had first come under police radar on 2 May, when plain-clothes officers arrested three men and seized four mobile phones.
Analysis of the devices uncovered messages and images linking Hasanaj to the Vito Line operation.
Further arrests quickly followed.
On 4 June, associate Gezim Dollapaj was detained with £293 in cash, while phone evidence confirmed his role in the drug deals.
Investigations also exposed Hasanajs younger brother, Kreshnik, as reported by NeedToKnow.
On the same day Vitlum was arrested, Kreshnik was found parked at a fast food restaurant and taken into custody.
Kent Police seized £1,230 in cash from the 27-year-olds vehicle.
All three Albanian nationals were charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Despite pleading not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, the trio were convicted after an eight-day trial.
On 20 March, the Hasanaj brothers were each jailed for five years, while Dollapaj received three years and six months behind bars.
Detective Inspector Matt Lynch said: These two brothers were running a significant criminal enterprise and making a large profit while bringing cocaine into Maidstone.
They thought they could remain anonymous by using others to deal the drugs but were overconfident and had not accounted for the efforts of our dedicated officers.
These two men along with their associates brought misery to local families affected by drug abuse and are responsible for the offences committed by their customers.
Their prison sentences are well deserved and entirely justified.
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EMERGENCY SERVICES) We have obtained this material directly from the emergency services (fire / police / ambulance / rescue workers).
Video Restrictions: None.
Text messages and photographs retrieved by detectives through the devices connected Hasanaj to the ‘Vito Line’ scheme. Additional arrests soon followed.
On June 4, accomplice Gezim Dollapaj was apprehended with £293 in cash, while phone evidence established his involvement in the narcotics transactions. Further investigation also revealed Hasanaj’s younger sibling, Kreshnik, as reported by NeedToKnow.
On the same day Vitlum was captured, officers located Kreshnik at a fast food outlet, where he was placed under arrest. Kent Police confiscated £1,230 in cash from the 27-year-old’s vehicle.
All three Albanian citizens were charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. Despite entering not guilty pleas at Maidstone Crown Court, the trio were found guilty following an eight-day trial.
Story from Jam Press (Arrested On Plane)
Pictured: Gezim Dollapaj.
VIDEO: Dealer cuffed on Stansted runway as Vito Line trio jailed over 100 cocaine deals
A drug dealer got the shock of his life when he was arrested the moment he stepped off a plane with his gang later jailed over a major cocaine network.
Vitlum Hasanaj, 36, was met by police waiting with handcuffs on the tarmac at Stansted Airport.
The arrest marked the downfall of the so-called Vito Line a drug network linked to around 100 cocaine deals.
Officers swooped as soon as his flight landed on 30 June, bringing his operation crashing down.
The gang had first come under police radar on 2 May, when plain-clothes officers arrested three men and seized four mobile phones.
Analysis of the devices uncovered messages and images linking Hasanaj to the Vito Line operation.
Further arrests quickly followed.
On 4 June, associate Gezim Dollapaj was detained with £293 in cash, while phone evidence confirmed his role in the drug deals.
Investigations also exposed Hasanajs younger brother, Kreshnik, as reported by NeedToKnow.
On the same day Vitlum was arrested, Kreshnik was found parked at a fast food restaurant and taken into custody.
Kent Police seized £1,230 in cash from the 27-year-olds vehicle.
All three Albanian nationals were charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Despite pleading not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, the trio were convicted after an eight-day trial.
On 20 March, the Hasanaj brothers were each jailed for five years, while Dollapaj received three years and six months behind bars.
Detective Inspector Matt Lynch said: These two brothers were running a significant criminal enterprise and making a large profit while bringing cocaine into Maidstone.
They thought they could remain anonymous by using others to deal the drugs but were overconfident and had not accounted for the efforts of our dedicated officers.
These two men along with their associates brought misery to local families affected by drug abuse and are responsible for the offences committed by their customers.
Their prison sentences are well deserved and entirely justified.
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EMERGENCY SERVICES) We have obtained this material directly from the emergency services (fire / police / ambulance / rescue workers).
Video Restrictions: None.
The Hasanaj brothers were each sentenced to five years on March 20, while Dollapaj was handed a three-year and six-month jail term. “These two brothers were running a significant criminal enterprise and making a large profit while bringing cocaine into Maidstone,” Detective Inspector Matt Lynch said following proceedings.
“They thought they could remain anonymous by using others to deal the drugs but were overconfident and had not accounted for the efforts of our dedicated officers.
“These two men along with their associates brought misery to local families affected by drug abuse and are responsible for the offences committed by their customers. Their prison sentences are well deserved and entirely justified.”
Story from Jam Press (Arrested On Plane)
Pictured: Kreshnik Hasanaj.
VIDEO: Dealer cuffed on Stansted runway as Vito Line trio jailed over 100 cocaine deals
A drug dealer got the shock of his life when he was arrested the moment he stepped off a plane with his gang later jailed over a major cocaine network.
Vitlum Hasanaj, 36, was met by police waiting with handcuffs on the tarmac at Stansted Airport.
The arrest marked the downfall of the so-called Vito Line a drug network linked to around 100 cocaine deals.
Officers swooped as soon as his flight landed on 30 June, bringing his operation crashing down.
The gang had first come under police radar on 2 May, when plain-clothes officers arrested three men and seized four mobile phones.
Analysis of the devices uncovered messages and images linking Hasanaj to the Vito Line operation.
Further arrests quickly followed.
On 4 June, associate Gezim Dollapaj was detained with £293 in cash, while phone evidence confirmed his role in the drug deals.
Investigations also exposed Hasanajs younger brother, Kreshnik, as reported by NeedToKnow.
On the same day Vitlum was arrested, Kreshnik was found parked at a fast food restaurant and taken into custody.
Kent Police seized £1,230 in cash from the 27-year-olds vehicle.
All three Albanian nationals were charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
Despite pleading not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, the trio were convicted after an eight-day trial.
On 20 March, the Hasanaj brothers were each jailed for five years, while Dollapaj received three years and six months behind bars.
Detective Inspector Matt Lynch said: These two brothers were running a significant criminal enterprise and making a large profit while bringing cocaine into Maidstone.
They thought they could remain anonymous by using others to deal the drugs but were overconfident and had not accounted for the efforts of our dedicated officers.
These two men along with their associates brought misery to local families affected by drug abuse and are responsible for the offences committed by their customers.
Their prison sentences are well deserved and entirely justified.
ENDS
EDITOR’S NOTE: Video Usage Licence: (EMERGENCY SERVICES) We have obtained this material directly from the emergency services (fire / police / ambulance / rescue workers).
Video Restrictions: None.
