A violent underbelly, embedded within London’s streets, has gone global. What initially appears as localised gang-on-gang violence carries deeper roots, linking back to some of the most organised crime networks operating internationally. The ongoing feud between two rival gangs, the Hackney Bombers and the Tottenham Turks, embodies this shift, taking brutality from the streets of North London to the alleys of Spain, Moldova, and beyond.

The violence is tied to one underlying motive—financial gain fuelled by an international drug trade and its shifting dynamics. Law enforcement is grappling with containment as these operations expand their reach, leaking their influence from Dalston high streets to Barcelona promenades. As noted by the Evening Standard, “sophisticated criminal groups with international networks are behind a wave of violence on London’s streets”.

A New Wave of Violence Tied to London Drug Crime

On a busy May afternoon last year, Dalston’s Kingsland Road became the scene of a horrifying shooting. The incident, which left a nine-year-old girl and three men injured, not only scarred the bustling community of London’s Turkish and Kurdish diaspora but pointed toward a much graver issue. Experts believe the attack was part of an entrenched gang war that has deep roots in London drug crime.

Former Metropolitan Police officer Ian Broughton describes the conflict as a product of “sophisticated, international crime networks,” operating under the guise of what may initially look like just local gang skirmishes. The Guardian further highlights this connection, stating that the shooting may be linked to “a Europe-wide battle between rival drug gangs”.

From controlling heroin distribution in the 80s to making recent pivots towards cocaine trafficking, this ongoing feud is far from just a clash of street-level territorial disputes.

Origins of London’s Gang Wars

North London became home to a diverse Turkish-speaking diaspora during the 1960s and 70s, who sought better economic opportunities. This influx increased as Kurdish people fled violence and oppression back home. The community brought entrepreneurial spirit to the area, transforming high streets like Green Lanes into cultural hubs lined with kebab shops, Turkish bakeries, and bustling greengrocers.

Unfortunately, alongside this vibrant change came the darker temptations of organised crime. Migrant communities offered convenient footholds for criminals due to pre-existing international connections, cash-based businesses, and access to discreet storage within warehouse districts.

Domination of the Heroin Market

By the 1980s, London drug crime took a sharp turn towards the heroin market. Unlike English-origin gangs, Turkish crime syndicates leveraged direct access to heroin transported along smuggling routes from Afghanistan through the Middle East.

The Baybaşin clan, an ethnic Kurdish family from southeast Turkey, dominated this market. Led by Huseyin Baybaşin, dubbed “Europe’s Pablo Escobar,” the family controlled approximately 95% of the UK’s heroin distribution at their height. Their network combined local recruits, violence, and ethnic ties to maintain their iron grip.

However, international criminal efforts saw Huseyin and other family members incarcerated, temporarily loosening their monopoly. This left a power vacuum and splintered networks struggling for dominance— a breeding ground for the modern feud between Hackney Bombers and Tottenham Turks.

Race to Control London’s Drug Trade

By the early 2000s, the Tottenham Turks had emerged as key competitors to the Hackney Bombers’ dominance. This rivalry, initially kept within Hackney and Haringey, spiralled into increasingly violent territory battles. Kidnappings, contract killings, and ambushes proliferated as the conflict escalated.

The murder of Ali Armagan, the Hackney Bombers’ key figure, in 2012 further fueled the tension. Similarly, the killing of Zafer Eren, the Tottenham Turks’ leader, in 2013 deepened the animosity between these two organised crime groups. These events cemented their decades-long feud.

Globalisation of Violence

Recent years have seen the violence extend far beyond North London’s familiar streets. Three weeks before the Dalston shooting, a Turkish drug trafficker was assassinated in Barcelona. Similar killings took place in Moldova and Turkey, spreading the gang conflict across various borders.

Experts attribute this shift to global disruptions in the heroin trade. The Taliban’s 2022 ban on opium cultivation led to a sharp 74% decline in heroin supply, intensifying competition. With heroin drying up, Turkish gangs shifted focus to cocaine markets, forming alliances with South American cartels. These newer partnerships have fuelled gang aggression both abroad and at home as rival factions scramble to control resources.

Barriers to Law Enforcement

Efforts to curtail London drug crime through policing have exposed several challenges. Investigations like Operation Utara by the Met Police aimed to dismantle the Tottenham Turks’ leadership but exposed how resilient these groups have become. Even high-profile crackdowns barely weaken the syndicates’ operations as arrested members are quickly replaced by others.

The transnational nature of these criminal organisations adds complexity. Political inconsistencies across nations and a perceived leniency towards traffickers in countries like Turkey make coordinated efforts almost impossible. For instance, Huseyin Baybaşin’s mysterious release from Turkey’s custody further illustrates the gaps within international enforcement frameworks.

Source: The Standard