Photo of bathroom floor leads to Albanian gang member's capture

A crime gang member helped get himself caught from a photo of his bathroom floor, a court heard.

Klodian Ferizolli was caught during a probe into a Glasgow-based Albanian mob involved in large-scale drug trafficking.

The 32-year-old, who ran a busy car wash and was the director of a property management firm, contacted criminal associates using the EncroChat phone network before it was busted by the law authorities in 2020.

First offender Ferizolli – who lived in the UK for 15 years – had used the handle “smoke-strong”.

Prosecutor David Fisken told the High Court in Glasgow: “Police were able to attribute ‘smoke-strong’ to Ferrizolli through an image sent by him on EncroChat which matched the pattern of the bathroom floor tiles at his address.”

Ferrizolli used his encrypted device “on an almost daily basis” to exchange messages with others between March and June 2020.

One chat involved discussing a property where a cannabis factory could be set up to grow 10kg of the drug.

A day later, Ferizolli sent a photo to another associate of a large roll of banknotes.

Mr Fisken told the court Ferizolli also spoke about arrangements for transporting hauls of cannabis.

Describing another exchange, the advocate depute stated: “A further conversation between him and another took place this time about money owed to Ferizolli.

“It included lists and figures totalling £355,350 owed.

“Ferizolli confirmed that he had received £239,680.”

The court also heard how Ferizolli offered to supply cocaine to another EncroChat user at £39,000-per-kilogram.

Ferizolli was stopped by police in a car in Glasgow’s Baillieston in late May 2020.

He gave his personal details before the officers left him.

Mr Fisken: “When they departed, Ferizolli almost immediately contacted (an associate) on EncoChat advising that he had been stopped, had his phone with him at the time, and he had £15,000 in his car.”

Ferizolli, of the city’s Mount Vernon, was charged in 2024 after being linked to the “smoke-strong” nickname.

He pled guilty to a charge of being involved in serious organised crime.

Ferizolli had been on bail, but his lawyer, Paul Nelson KC, did not move for that to be continued.

Lord Arthurson remanded him in custody as sentencing was deferred until July 24 in Kilmarnock.