Albanian drug gangs shoot it out in Barking

A gang member shot a rival in the neck after driving off with his drugs, a court heard.

Dray Nyame, 28, blasted 24-year-old Albanian Dashmir Ghashi at ‘close quarters’ after the rip-off in Barking, east London on 4 June 2020.

Armed officers arrived on the scene following reports of a shooting in Wilmington Gardens and found Mr Ghasnhi with a bullet wound in his neck, the Old Bailey heard.

He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and, due to the lasting effects of his injuries, will not give evidence.

Nyame had travelled to east London for a ‘pre-arranged drugs deal’ involving his gang and a group of Albanian dealers, said prosecutor Mark Paltenghi.

‘The defendant, having obtained his drugs, drove off in his vehicle.

‘The Albanian, who supplied the drugs, wished to be paid and led the chase.’

Mr Ghashi was identified by CCTV footage from a nearby house which showed him jumping into his car to pursue Nyame’s silver vehicle.

Nyame allegedly shot him in the neck when the convoy of cars were ‘bumper-to-bumper’.

Mr Paltenghi said: ‘This is an incident in which a firearm is discharged… and the bullet found its target.

‘It met its mark.

‘When you consider whether it is an attempted murder case or not, these are some of the facts for you to consider.

‘What intent could there be if you fire a gun at close quarters into the head area of someone driving a vehicle close behind you?’

Nyame was arrested on June 9 and, six weeks later, a passenger in the car of Albanian dealers identified the defendant as the man who fired the shot.

Nyame, of Peabody Hill, Norwood, south London, denies attempted murder, wounding with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.