Teen among armed gang shot at during botched raid on Albanian-run cannabis site in Croydon

A dramatic confrontation unfolded in Croydon last summer when a machete-wielding gang was met with unexpected gunfire during a failed raid on an Albanian-run cannabis farm. The incident, now at the centre of a high-profile court case, exposed the violent undercurrents of South London’s illicit drug operations and left residents deeply unsettled.

The attempted heist occurred on July 7, 2023, when a group of young men—some masked and one reportedly just 17—targeted what they believed to be a vulnerable cannabis grow site. But what began as a brazen burglary quickly turned into chaos, as the intruders encountered armed resistance from the farm’s Albanian occupants.

“They discovered they had taken knives to a gunfight,” prosecutor Richard Job told the jury at Croydon Crown Court, describing how at least one defender fired a shot to repel the gang. The sound of gunfire, overheard by a neighbour, prompted a swift police response. Officers arrived at the scene just as the burglars tried to flee, and three Albanian men were found hiding inside the premises.

The court heard that the defendants—including Kieran Chambers, Meldin Adeyele, and Tyrone Owusu—had conspired to carry out the aggravated burglary, armed with machetes and knives. Disturbingly, footage from Snapchat was recovered showing some of the group filming themselves inside the farm, boasting about their access to the illegal crop.

DNA evidence placed Adeyele, along with co-defendants Wilson, Ayee, and Ikaba, directly at the scene, bolstering the prosecution’s claims of premeditated conspiracy. “This was not a spontaneous act,” Mr Job argued. “It was a coordinated plan to storm the site, using weapons to intimidate and seize control.”

No one was seriously injured during the raid or ensuing gunfire, but the violence has reignited concerns in Croydon over the escalating link between cannabis cultivation and gang activity. Residents living near the crime scene expressed alarm at the notion of armed standoffs playing out in residential streets, with one witness saying: “We thought it was fireworks—then we heard shouting. It’s terrifying that this is happening around us.”

Authorities believe the cannabis farm was part of a larger network tied to Balkan organised crime, which has increasingly taken root in urban pockets across the UK. Albanian-run grow houses, often concealed in otherwise ordinary homes, have become a flashpoint for violent crime and gang rivalries.

The court case, presided over by Judge Elizabeth Smaller, remains ongoing. Legal arguments continue over the role of each defendant, with prosecutors seeking to prove that all involved were complicit in the armed conspiracy, regardless of whether they physically entered the property or not.

Local MP Sarah Jones has called for increased coordination between police and community groups to address both the growing number of illegal cannabis farms and the youth violence tied to them. “This isn’t just about drugs—it’s about safeguarding our communities from becoming battlegrounds,” she said.

Meanwhile, police are continuing efforts to clamp down on illicit grow operations, with recent raids across London targeting similar sites. Officers say they are also working with schools and youth services to steer at-risk young people away from gang recruitment.

As the case progresses and more evidence is revealed, it serves as a sobering reminder of how deeply the drug trade—and the violence it brings—has permeated everyday life in parts of South London.